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Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe returns to the West End following a decade of stage hits

Dom O'Hanlon
Dom O'Hanlon

Tickets are now on sale for The Old Vic's upcoming productions in their 2017 season. As well as their previously announced productions of Art starring Rufus Sewell and Woyzeck starring Star Wars' John Boyega, the season features two exciting new productions - a revival of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead alongside the World Premiere of Girl From the North Country by Conor McPherson which features classic songs by Nobel Prize-winner Bob Dylan.

'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe returns to the London stage in Stoppard's modern classic, which returns to London 50 years after its premiere at the Old Vic Theatre. Directed by David Leveaux, he will star as Rosencrantz opposite Joshua McGuire as Guildenstern.

The play focuses on two minor characters from William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. It offers the audience the experience of seeing the familiar story told from an alternative perspective, and the characters find themselves confused by the story that is unfolding around them.

Whilst he is primarily known around the world for creating the role of the Boy Wizard on screen in the 'Harry Potter' film franchise, he is also known to theatre fans in London and on Broadway for a wide array of challenging theatre performances. From exciting new work to musical theatre classics, his roles have each extended his skills as a performer, offering audiences a varied look at his abilities as an actor.

Radcliffe's role in Stoppard's masterpiece will once again push the boundaries of what audiences can expect from the British actor, and he is no doubt prepared to delight his fans once again.

 

Equus - West End and Broadway

Daniel Radcliffe in Equus

Daniel Radcliffe's first stage role came at the age of 17, in a rare revival of Peter Shaffer's play Equus that originally opened at the Gielgud Theatre in 1973. The play provided Radcliffe with a much needed breakout role in the form of Alan Strang, a stable boy who has an obsession with horses, and offered him the chance to be seen outside the realm of his wizard alter-ego. The revival opened at the Gielgud Theatre on 27 February 2007 after taking in an advance of over £1.7million.

Directed by Thea Sharrock, Radcliffe starred alongside the late Richard Griffiths in a part that created much media interest due to a nudity scene. Reviews were generally positive for Radcliffe who were impressed by his bravery and deliberate casting against type. The production transferred to Broadway where it ran at the Broadhurst Theatre from September 2008 to February 2009 where Radcliffe was nominated for Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a play.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - Broadway

Daniel Radliffe in How to Succeed...

Following on from his Broadway success in Equus, Radcliffe turned to the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by Frank Loesser for his next stage outing. How to Succeed... tells the story of J. Pierrepont Finch who manages to climb the corporate ladder with the help of a handy 'how to' guide, satirising the methods and functions of big business, in particular the relationships between men and women. The show had successfully been revived in New York in 1995, but this new production gave a fresh look at the hit musical that continues to be revived around the world.

Once again there was much expectation for Radcliffe to deliver, especially as this was the first time the actor had sang a full musical theatre score on stage. The revival opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in March 2011 and was directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford. It received pleasing notices and brought a new generation of fans to the 1961 musical, with a younger audience drawn to the title thanks to Radcliffe's appeal.

His performance in the show earned him earned him a Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award and Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, but he wasn't nominated for a Tony Award, unlike his co-star John Larroquette. He remained with the production for just under a year.

 

The Cripple of Inishmaan - West End and Broadway

Daniel Radcliffe - The Cripple of Inishmaan

After a new screen role in the film adaptation of Susan Hill's The Woman in Black, Radcliffe's next stage project was a new production of Martin McDonagh's dark comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan, in which he played the lead role of Billy Claven. Presented in the West End as part of The Michael Grandage Company's first London season at the Noel Coward Theatre, the show was a sell out hit, running from June to August 2013.

Critics praised both the production and Radcliffe's performance in the difficult role, described by The Guardian as "invest[ing] a sense of real feeling...[he] has the precious gift, vital in a play full of narrative surprises, of seeming artful and vulnerable at the same time."

The production later transferred to Broadway, opening at the Cort Theatre from April to July 2014, once again directed by Michael Grandage. The play was nominated for Best Revival of a play at the Tony Awards, and Radcliffe was nominated for a Drama Desk for Best Actor.

 

Privacy - Off-Broadway

Daniel Radcliffe Privacy

Radcliffe's most recent stage role was at the Public Theater off-Broadway in the Donmar Warehouse' production of Privacy, a new play inspired by the revelations of Edward Snowden. Running throughout summer 2016 the play was created by James Graham & Josie Rourke and directed by Rourke once again.

Described as a "funny, smart, analytical play", critics found Radcliffe "fresh and engaging... funnier than ever" in this difficult drama that drew on exclusive interviews with the country's top journalists, politicians and academics and aimed to assess our complicated relationship with technology and data. Radcliffe starred as a lonely guy arriving in the city who attempts to figure out how to like, tag and share his life without giving it all away.

Don't miss Daniel Radcliffe's return to the stage in Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead from 25 Feb 2017

Originally published on

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