The Old Vic today announced Tim Key, Paul Ritter and Rufus Sewell will star in the forthcoming production of Art, directed by Matthew Warchus.
The production will mark 20 years since Christopher Hampton’s translation of Yasmina Reza’s Art premiered to critical acclaim in London. The original West End production starred Ken Stott, Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay and won the Olivier and Evening Standard Award for Best New Comedy. The play also won the Molière Award in France and Tony Award on Broadway.
The premise of Art revolves around three old friends, Serge, Marc and Yven, a white painting, and what constitutes art. A comedy at heart, it is billed as a “dazzling study of friendship, prejudice and tolerance.”
Tim Key will play Yvan. He has previously performed in the Old Vic production of Tree and is perhaps best known for his TV appearances on Midmorning Matters, Peep Show and Foreign Bodies.
Paul Ritter will play Marc. His previous theatre credits include playing John Major opposite Helen Mirren in The Audience, as well as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and The Hothouse. He won an Olivier Award for his performance in Coram Boy at the National Theatre and received Olivier and Tony nominations for his role in The Norman Conquests at the Old Vic and on Broadway.
Rufus Sewell has been cast as Serge. Rufus was last seen on the West End stage in the Donmar Warehouse revival of Closer. Other theatre credits include his Olivier Award-winning and Tony-nominated performance in Rock N’ Roll, and Olivier-nominated turn in Arcadia at the National Theatre, as well as Old Times and Macbeth.
Rufus can currently be seen playing Lord Melbourne in the highly successful ITV drama Victoria, and the Amazon drama The Man In The High Castle.
Art runs from 10 December 2016 until 18 February 2017 at the Old Vic Theatre.
