Tom Hiddleston’s stage history

Whether you recognise him as Loki or as the Night Manager, as a Shakespearean actor or as a massive Morecambe and Wise fan (a little less likely), it’s fair to say everybody knows of Tom Hiddleston!

His various accolades include WhatsOnStage Awards, Olivier Awards, Golden Globes, and Emmy nominations. Despite his Hollywood success, luckily for us, he always finds his way back to the stage.

To mark his birthday, 9 February, we’re taking a look back at his stage career to date.

Captain Stanhope in Journey’s End at Edinburgh Festival Fringe (1999)

An unearthed interaction between Hiddleston and Al Murray, revealed that the actor appeared at the famous Edinburgh Fringe when he was 18. The Independent’s Laurence Hughes wrote in his review of the war drama that “a magnificently ferocious but vulnerable Stanhope from Tom Hiddleston, provided the emotional core of the play.”

Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire

It is widely reported that while studying at Cambridge, Hiddleston appeared as Mitch in the Tennessee Williams classic. In the audience was agent Lorraine Hamilton of Hamilton Hodell, who encouraged him to apply to study at RADA, where he then graduated in 2005.

Yorgjin Oxo in The Man (2005)

For his first job out of drama school, Hiddleston played at Theatre503, taking on the title role in Yorgjin Oxo: The Man. Thomas Crowe’s surreal play saw Hiddleston’s character transform into the unthinkable.

Alsemero in The Changeling at the Barbican (2006)

One of his two performances as part of the Cheek by Jowl theatre company was a leading role in a touring production of The Changeling, which enjoyed a London season. Declan Donnellan directed Thomas Middleton and William Rowley’s psychological tragedy. The show was rather gruesome and explicit, with reviewers saying the interpretation of the classic was “not for the faint-hearted.”

Posthumus/Cloten in Cymbeline at the Barbican (2007)

For his second performance with Cheek by Jowl, Hiddleston took on two characters! The duality of the role, directed again by Donnellan, was widely praised, with observations that he was able to portray an earnest and virtuous Posthumus while also capable of a darker Cloten. Hiddleston bagged the final award that the Oliviers have given for Best Newcomer in a Play (the Award was retired a year later). His chances of winning were pretty high, as he was also nominated for the role we will look back on next…

Cassio in Othello at the Donmar Warehouse (2008)

In 1982, Kenneth Branagh won the Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Play. Why is that relevant, you may ask? Well, Branagh once said that he was first wowed by Hiddleston (ahead of casting him in Thor) after seeing his Cassio at the Donmar Warehouse. The show, directed by Michael Grandage, saw the roles of the Moor and Iago tackled by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Ewan McGregor, respectively, in what was hailed as a masterful adaptation. And this, as you may know, won’t be the last mention of Branagh in this article!

Eugene Lvov in Ivanov at Wyndham’s Theatre (2008)

That very same year, Branagh played the title character of Chekhov’s Ivanov in a new version by Tom Stoppard. Hiddleston joined him at the Wyndham’s, and it was this collaboration that led to his audition for the Marvel film Thor, directed by Branagh. Though Hiddleston auditioned for the titular superhero, he was eventually cast as the villainous Loki. His two roles that year led to his first WhatsOnStage Award win.

Gaius Marcius Coriolanus in Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse (2013)

In between his burgeoning Hollywood stints, Hiddleston played the titular role in Coriolanus at the Donmar. Directed by Josie Rourke and also featuring Mark Gatiss, the gore-filled production saw Hiddleston blood-soaked and suspended from the ceiling. Michael Coveney’s review of the production called it “an original, and disturbing, interpretation.” His performance earned him a WhatsOnStage Award!

Hamlet in Hamlet at RADA (2017)

Branagh’s back! For three weeks only, he directed Hiddleston on stage as Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It was in aid of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and took place in their tiny 160-seat theatre. Tickets to the exclusive event were sold via ballot, and it’s estimated that only 3000 people saw the defining role live. Not even press were allocated tickets.

Robert in Betrayal (2019)

After appearing in a Pinter gala, Hiddleston starred in a Jamie Lloyd-directed revival of Betrayal. Opposite him, Zawe Ashton played his spouse, Emma, who had an affair with his friend, Jerry (played by Charlie Cox). Despite the drama on stage, Ashton and Hiddleston struck up a relationship while performing together and are now happily together with children. They made their official debut as a couple during the Tony Awards after Betrayal’s Broadway transfer.

Mystery guest performer in The Play What I Wrote at the Birmingham Rep (2022)

Between his long-running stage performances, Hiddleston has often appeared at reading events and galas. But still, it was surprising to hear him declare “I am Tom Hiddleston!” live on stage as the guest performer in The Play What I Wrote. Co-authored by his long-term friend and artistic director of the Birmingham Rep, Sean Foley, the piece saw him make a fool of himself – all in good nature! He said in an interview that the Morecambe and Wise comedy was “a gift” and “a joy” following the pandemic.

Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane (2025)

Hiddleston most recently reunited with Lloyd, and showed off his famed dance moves, in a beautifully big revival of Much Ado About Nothing! His performance alongside Hayley Atwell has earned him another WhatsOnStage Award nomination – after winning Best Actor in a Play in 2009 for the Donmar’s productions of Othello and Ivanov. Will he get another for his mantelpiece?