Ewan McGregor returning to London's West End after 17 years
Ewan McGregor will lead the cast of the reboot of 'The Master Builder' on London's West End next year.
Ewan McGregor is returning to London's West End for the first time in 17 years.
The 53-year-old actor will star in the new version of Henrik Ibsen’s 1892 play 'The Master Builder' – which has been penned by playwright Lila Raicek - between April and July 2025 at Wyndham’s Theatre.
It marks a reunion between the 'Moulin Rouge!' star and the production's director Michael Grandage, as Ewan starred in 'Othello' and 'Guys and Dolls' when he was the artistic director of London's Donmar Theatre.
From December 2007 to February 2008, Ewan starred as Iago in 'Othello' alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor as Othello and Kelly Reilly as Desdemona, and from June 2005 to April 2007, he led the Donmar Warehouse revival of 'Guys and Dolls'.
Speaking to the BBC, the 'Star Wars' actor admitted he has "missed" being on stage and explained that his return wasn't planned.
He said: “The funny story is, I had literally just finished reading Ibsen’s The Master Builder for pleasure – an extraordinary read.
“Michael got in touch out of the blue and I mentioned how much I’d love to get back on stage.”
The 'Down with Love' star admits theatre is "very good for the soul".
Ewan added: “Theatre teaches you so much about acting, the audience teaches you. What works, and what doesn’t. It’s very good for the soul.
“The live experience. The power of storytelling. “Also I love the routine of it, waking up in the morning with the day aiming towards this event, this electric experience.”
In a statement, Ewan said: "It's such a thrill be returning to the stage – and to work with Michael again, an actor's director with whom I have had some of my happiest working experiences.
"He's a generous collaborator, who enables you to discover the play together afresh in the rehearsal room. And what a play – I love where Lila has taken the story, a very modern take on today's sexual politics."
Michael added: "It's always a privilege to open a new play in the West End and to bring emerging and original voices to as wide an audience as possible. I'm excited to collaborate with writer Lila Raicek, staging ‘My Master Builder' in London this spring. The production is also a joyful reunion with Ewan McGregor - an extraordinary stage actor, working together for the first time on a world premiere, in a brand-new partnership for MGC with MarketStall and Seaview."
'My Master Builder' "follows Elena Solness, a publishing magnate, and her architect husband, Henry Solness (Ewan), as their marriage is disrupted by the arrival of Mathilde, a former student of Henry’s with whom he once shared a connection. The play explores themes of love and vulnerability and draws inspiration from Ibsen."
Ewan will make his debut on April 17, with the run concluding on July 12.
