Theatre News

Gemma Arterton and Kwame Kwei-Armah in new Donmar season

Josie Rourke will direct the ”Nell Gwynn” star in ”Saint Joan”

Gemma Arterton and Kwame Kwei-Armah
Gemma Arterton and Kwame Kwei-Armah
© Dan Wooller

Gemma Arterton will star in a new production and Kwame Kwei-Armah will stage a UK premiere in the Donmar Warehouse's new autumn season.

Arterton will return to the stage to star in the titular role of George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan, directed by Josie Rourke.

Opening in December, Saint Joan is Shaw's classic play about the historical figure Joan of Arc. She will be joined by Matt Bardock as Robert De Baudricourt and D’Estivet, Richard Cant as De Stogumber, Hadley Fraser as Dunois and Elliot Levey as Cauchon.

Kicking off the season is the UK premiere of Kemp Powers' play One Night In Miami which will be directed by Kwei-Armah.

The piece is a fictional account of a night in 1964, where Cassius Clay celebrates his world heavyweight boxing title with his friends, political activist Malcolm X, singer Sam Cooke and football star Jim Brown.

The cast includes David Ajala as Jim Brown, Francois Battiste as Malcolm X, Sope Dirisu as Cassius Clay and Arinze Kene as Sam Cooke.

Rourke said: "We are delighted to welcome back director Kwame Kwei-Armah to the UK. The production was long-planned to be staged at the Donmar in 2016, however since the passing of the legend, Muhammad Ali, the play has taken on a new and added poignancy. We are honoured to be producing its UK premiere."

"I am thrilled to be directing Gemma Arterton, one of our most luminous and compelling stage actors in Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan. The play is something I’ve long wanted to stage at the Donmar and I am immensely proud to be presenting a season of work in which female and diverse voices take on great figures of history and great roles from the canon."

The pieces join the already announced season at the new theatre in King's Cross. Phyllida Lloyd's all-female Julius Caesar, Henry IV, and The Tempest will run from 23 September.