Matthew Macfadyen & Stephen Mangan star as Jeeves & Wooster in West End Perfect Nonsense
The production, which is directed by Sean Foley (The Ladykillers), will run at the Duke of York's Theatre from 30 October 2013 (press night 12 November) following runs at Richmond Theatre (10-19 October) and Brighton Theatre Royal (22-26 October).
Written by siblings Robert and David Goodale, Perfect Nonsense is adapted from PG Wodehouse's The Code of the Woosters (1938), the first installment in the Totleigh Towers saga.
Director Sean Foley said: "When the Goodale brothers' exceptional script, based on PG Wodehouse's quintessential English double act of Jeeves and Wooster, was shown to me, I immediately knew I wanted to do it. Wodehouse is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, English comic writer, and the challenge of putting his finest creation on stage for the very first time is a tremendously exciting one."
Matthew Macfadyen, who has starred in films including Pride & Prejudice and Anna Kerenina, described the play as "an absolute hoot". He added: "I'm also especially pleased to be working again with the supremely talented Messrs Mangan and Foley."
Stephen Mangan is best known for TV roles in Green Wing, I'm Alan Partridge, Episodes and Dirk Gently. He has also appeared in numerous stage productions including Birthday and The People Are Friendly at the Royal Court and The Norman Conquests at the Old Vic.
He said of his latest role: "I am ridiculously excited at the prospect of playing the mentally negligible Bertie Wooster on stage and can hardly wait to stagger into the glorious sunshine of Wodehouse's world. And with Jeeves, in the shape of Matthew Macfadyen by my side, what could possibly go wrong?"
Perfect Nonsense will be produced in the West End by Mark Goucher and Mark Rubinstein. Tickets are now on sale.
