Theatre News

Kristin Scott Thomas, Lia Williams & Rufus Sewell star in Old Times at the Pinter

It’s been confirmed that Rufus Sewell, Kristin Scott Thomas and Lia Williams will star in a revival of Pinter’s 1971 three-hander Old Times at the Harold Pinter Theatre in January.

The production, which is directed by Ian Rickson, will be the first Pinter play to be staged at the venue since it was renamed in the Nobel Prize-winning playwright’s honour last year.

In Pinter’s darkly erotic drama, Kate and her husband Deeley (Sewell) are visited in their converted farmhouse home by Kate’s old college roommate Anna, sparking off a war in which memories – and different versions of the past – are the weapons.

As reported back in August, Thomas and Williams will alternate the roles of Kate and Anna nightly, echoing Danny Boyle‘s Olivier Award-winning production of Frankenstein at the National Theatre.

Scott Thomas, who won a Whatsonstage.com Award for As You Desire Me in 2006, and Rickson will reunite having collaborated on a revival of Pinter’s Betrayal at the same venue (then called the Comedy Theatre) last year.

Rickson’s other recent credits include Jez Butterworth‘s internationally acclaimed Jerusalem, starring Tony Award-winner Mark Rylance.

Rufus Sewell was last in the West End back in 2006 when he won an Olivier Award for Tom Stoppard‘s Rock ‘n’ Roll. Lia Williams‘ recent theatre credits include Earthquakes in London (National) and The Lady from the Sea (Arcola).

Old Times, which is being produced by Sonia Friedman, will begin previews at the Harold Pinter from 12 January and is booking until 6 April 2013.