Theatre News

Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie joins the cast of The Birthday Party

Further casting includes Toby Jones, Zoe Wanamaker and Stephen Mangan

Pearl Mackie
Pearl Mackie
© Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

Pearl Mackie has joined the cast of Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party, which opens next year at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

She joins the previously announced Toby Jones, Zoe Wanamaker and Stephen Mangan in the piece, which is set in a sleepy seaside boarding house.

The production – which will be directed by Ian Rickson – marks the 60th anniversary of the play, which originally opened in Cambridge in 1958, transferring to London later that same year.

Mackie became a household name starring as Bill Potts opposite Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who. Her stage credits include Only Human (Theatre503), Obama-ology (Finborough Theatre) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (West End).

On being cast, she said: "I'm delighted to be back in the West End working with such a prolific director like Ian Rickson – and an incredible cast – on this rich, dark and enthralling play. I love how Pinter creates characters and I feel very lucky to work on one of his best-known plays."

Tickets are priced from £15 with over 20,000 seats at £30 and under.

The Birthday Party runs from 18 January to 14 April, with previews from 9 January 2018.

Buy tickets for The Birthday Party now