The Almeida theatre’s sold out production of A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Oscar nominee Paul Mescal, is to transfer to London’s West End. It will run for six weeks at the Phoenix theatre from 20 March.
Mescal, who has been nominated for an Oscar for best actor for his performance in Aftersun, plays Stanley Kowalski in the revival of Tennessee Williams’ 1947 play set in New Orleans. Also reprising their roles will be Anjana Vasan (as Stanley’s wife, Stella), Patsy Ferran (as Blanche DuBois) and Dwane Walcott (as Mitch).
The play’s first week of performances at the Almeida in December were cancelled when the injured Lydia Wilson withdrew from the role of Blanche. Its press night was also delayed and it opened to critical acclaim this month.
The production is directed by Rebecca Frecknall, whose revival of Cabaret has run for more than a year at London’s Playhouse theatre, where Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) and John McCrea (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) will take over the roles of Sally Bowles and the Emcee next month.
Mescal hailed Streetcar’s “formidable cast and creative team, led by the exceptionally talented Rebecca Frecknall” and called it his favourite play, adding: “It’s wonderful to be able to share it with a wider audience.” Frecknall said the transfer was “testament to this fantastic company and incredible play”.
The Almeida’s production of Patriots, Peter Morgan’s play about Russian oligarchs starring Tom Hollander as businessman Boris Berezovsky, transfers to the Noël Coward theatre in the West End in May.
Tickets for A Streetcar Named Desire in the West End go on sale on 1 February.
