John Boyega Will Play Lead of Woyzeck in First West End Starring Role

John Boyega is heading to London’s Old Vic Theatre for his first West End starring role! The actor will play the lead in an adaptation of Georg Büchner’s 19th century play Woyzeck, which will be written by the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playwright Jack Thorne. Thorne’s stage work also includes The Solid Life of Sugar Water, Let The Right One In, and Bunny.

This is far from Boyega’s first theatrical role, having played Othello in college and appearing in plays at The National Theatre and Tricycle Theatre, so it’ll be exciting to see him back in theater. Woyzeck is based on the real story of a military barber in 1821 who stabbed his mistress and was sentenced to death. The story, which was left unfinished because of Büchner’s death, has been interpreted in a number of ways with different endings. I hope I’ll be able to see it (please come through National Theatre Live!), in which case I’m looking forward to see what direction Thorne will take and how Boyega will play this exploited, emotionally tortured, but also very conflicting character.

The Old Vic promises to “[create] for our time what Büchner intended for his: an unforgettable howl of rage.” The play, which was announced yesterday, will open in February 2017. Probably not a Valentine’s Day play though.

(via Access Hollywood)

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Charline Jao

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