Olivier winner Andrew Scott (Present Laughter, Hamlet, Fleabag, Sherlock) is returning to the West End this fall in Vanya, a new solo adaptation of Anton Chekhov's classic play. Simon Stephens (Sea Wall/A Life, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) has penned the new take, which will be directed by Sam Yates.
A preview run is being held at the Richmond Theatre August 28-September 2 before the work transfers to the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End. Previews will begin there September 15 ahead of a September 21 opening. The limited engagement is set through October 21.
Get a first glimpse of Scott's performance in Vanya with the new rehearsal photos below.
Scott is taking on every role in Stephens' adaptation of the Chekhov play, about a family beset by secrets, illicit love interests, and deep divides over their burdensome estate. It's a new collaboration for the pair who previously worked together on Sea Wall and Birdland following the short film The Hope Rooms.
Scott said in an earlier statement, “Heartbreaking, hilarious, sexy, devastating—the genius and extraordinary humanity of Chekhov just knocks me out." It's a sentiment echoed by Stephens who said, "This is work that reminds me again and again that theatre is our greatest art form. The most alive. The funniest. The sexiest. The most heart-breaking. The most human.”
The production will also have design by Rosanna Vize.The Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions, and Kater Gordon production also reunites producers Benjamin Lowy and Emily Vaughan-Barratt from Wessex Grove with Scott as they previously worked with the actor on Sea Wall and Hamlet, respectively.
Visit Vanyaonstage.com.