Ewan McGregor has described stay theatre as “good for the soul”, as he introduced he’s to return to the stage for the primary time in 17 years.
The Scottish actor, who has starred in Trainspotting and Moulin Rouge, is ready to star in My Master Builder in London’s West End between April and July subsequent yr.
McGregor instructed BBC News: “This is the longest I haven’t been on stage, and in honesty, I’ve missed it.”
Inspired by Henrik Ibsen’s 1892 play The Master Builder, the brand new present is written by US playwright Lila Raicek and will likely be directed by Michael Grandage.
“The comic story is, I had actually simply completed studying Ibsen’s The Master Builder for pleasure – a unprecedented learn,” McGregor defined. “Michael received in contact out of the blue and I discussed how a lot I’d like to get again on stage.
“And in a second of pure coincidence, he instructed me he had a play impressed by The Master Builder sitting on his desk. I requested him to ship it to me, and right here we’re. A second of whole serendipity.”
He stated Raicek had taken the script in a “fascinating” path, describing the brand new play as a “very fashionable tackle sexual politics in a approach that resonates notably for this second we discover ourselves in”.
“It examines these points in a really grown-up approach,” he continued. “And in the end, I felt like what an important play it could be to see, and subsequently what an important play it could be to do.”
Ibsen’s The Master Builder targeted on a middle-aged Norwegian architect who turns into profitable by constructing new houses following a fireplace that destroys a residential property.
But the bold and ruthless architect, Halvard Solness, grapples with emotions of inadequacy and worry of being overtaken by youthful expertise.
The manufacturing will start previews on the Wyndham’s Theatre in London on 17 April, and run till 12 July.
Grandage and McGregor have beforehand collaborated on Othello and Guys and Dolls, each for the Donmar theatre, the place Grandage was creative director.
McGregor described engaged on the 2 reveals as “superb experiences”, including he felt “extremely protected” within the director’s fingers.
“I actually just like the work he will get out of me,” McGregor stated. “He has nice inventive intention and concepts earlier than we begin within the rehearsal room, however after we are literally rehearsing with him, there’s such an important sense of discovering it collectively.”
McGregor’s movie credit embody Brassed Off, Miss Potter, Black Hawk Down, Angels & Demons, Birds of Prey and Salmon Fishing within the Yemen.
He performed Obi-Wan Kenobi within the first of the Star Wars prequel trilogy Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in 1999. He revisited the position in 4 subsequent Star Wars movies and within the 2022 miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The 53-year-old’s different TV credit embody Halston, through which he performed designer Roy Halston Frowick. McGregor gained an Emmy Award in 2021 for his portrayal.
Reflecting on his return to stay theatre, McGregor stated: “I really like appearing on movie and tv, and naturally, I really like appearing on stage. I’ve at all times been fortunate sufficient to do all three all through my profession.
“Theatre teaches you a lot about appearing, the viewers teaches you. What works, what doesn’t. It’s excellent for the soul. The stay expertise. The energy of storytelling.
“Also I really like the routine of it, waking up within the morning with the day aiming in direction of this occasion, this electrical expertise.”
Earlier this yr, McGregor acquired a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. He stated he was “notably moved” his star had been positioned beside that of the film franchise’s unique Princess Leia, the late actress Carrie Fisher.
