Rhys Ifans is set to return to the London stage for a new play at the Royal Court.
On Bear Ridge, by Welsh playwright Ed Thomas, will be a co-production between the National Theatre Wales and the Royal Court.
Royal Court artistic director Vicky Featherstone will co-direct the play with Thomas, who based the semi-autobiographical story on his own childhood village.
Ifans is joined in the cast by Rakie Ayola, who is currently performing in Strange Fruit at the Bush Theatre, Midsomer Murders’ Jason Hughes and Sion Daniel Young, who starred in War Horse.
The play follows a family-run butcher and grocer, where owners John Daniel (Ifans) and Noni (Ayola) are remembering the good times as the village is forgotten.
It will come to the Royal Court after a run at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff, opening in London in October.
Ifans was last seen on the London stage in Exit the King at the National Theatre, where he played a 400-year-old despot.
Thomas has staged previous plays House of America and Gas Station Angel at the Royal Court, as well as writing the Welsh language TV drama Hinterland/Y Gwyll.
On Bear Ridge runs at the Royal Court from October 24-November 23, royalcourttheatre.com
