Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis and Louisa Harland are set to star in David Ireland’s award-winning, brutally funny social satire Ulster American at the Riverside Studios in London.
Written by award-winning playwright David Ireland (Cyprus Avenue, The Lovers), Ulster American will be directed by Jeremy Herrin (A Mirror, Best of Enemies), and will run at Riverside Studios from 4 December 2023 to 27 January 2024.
The play centres on power dynamics, cultural identity and the perils of being a woman in the entertainment industry, with nothing is off limits in this pitch-black comedy.
The play will star Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson (True Detective, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) back on the London stage for the first time in almost 20 years, to play Oscar-winning American actor Jay Conway.
BAFTA and Emmy award-winner Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Batman) will star as English director Leigh Carver in the play, with Louisa Harland (Derry Girls, Dancing at Lughnasa) as Northern Irish playwright Ruth Davenport.
Harrelson and Harland are reuniting following their performance in Woody Harrelson’s feature film Lost in London. Harrelson and Serkis are friends, and have appeared together in films including War for the Planet of the Apes.
The creative team for Ulster American also includes set and costume design by Max Jones, lighting design by Oliver Fenwick, sound design by Emma Laxton, casting by Jessica Ronane CDG with Nicky Allpress as Associate Director.
In the play, an Oscar -winning American actor, an English director and a Northern Irish playwright are about to begin rehearsals for a new play – one that could transform each of their careers. But when it turns out that they’re not on the same page, the night threatens to spiral out of control.
Writer David Ireland told the BBC that, “It’s ironic because the play is about a Northern Irish playwright and an English director putting on a play in the West End about Northern Ireland with a big American star in it. That’s the situation we find ourselves in so, yeah, it’s interesting.”
Director Jeremy Herrin said in a statement: “I’m delighted that this rollercoaster of a play has summoned such a stellar roster of talent to join us for this pitch black comedy at the beautifully refurbished Riverside Studios. I’ve always admired David Ireland’s fearlessness and the way he manages to skewer pretension in its many guises. It’s an honour to bring the legend that is Woody Harrelson to London; to welcome Andy Serkis back to the stage after so much success in the movies; and to enjoy the brilliant Louisa Harland going toe-to-toe with them both. It’ll be a thrilling evening and I can’t wait to see our audience’s reaction to this explosive show.”
The play is produced by Second Half Productions.
Tickets go on general sale from 10am on 12 October 2023 – sign-up for our email alerts to hear about ticketing.
More about tickets to Ulster American at the Riverside Studios in London
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