Damian Lewis and Milly Alcock to Star in Old Vic’s New Season Under Rupert Goold

As reported by The Guardian, Henry V will be portrayed by Damian Lewis at London’s Old Vic during the venue’s inaugural staging under incoming artistic director Rupert Goold.

Goold will direct a provocative version of Shakespeare’s history play that challenges what makes a leader a legend. Henry V, featuring a set design by Miriam Buether, will have its first performance on 26 January, according to The Guardian. WhatsOnStage reported the production runs until 27 March, with a press night on 9 February.

This marks Lewis’s first major theatre role since he starred in The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? almost 10 years ago, The Guardian noted. London Theatre added that Lewis previously appeared in Homeland and Band of Brothers.

Milly Alcock will take the lead role in a version of Miss Julie, adapted and directed by Rebecca Frecknall, the Old Vic’s new associate director. Variety reported the production will debut on April 10 and run through May. The adaptation was originally produced by Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, and the Old Vic will partner with them on future projects, according to The Guardian.

According to The Guardian, Goold is set to stage a summertime revival of the satirical musical by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman titled Assassins, which focuses on historical plots against American presidents. Following that, Arinzé Kene will take on the role of an aggrieved horse-dealer in Kohlhaas, which was adapted by Omar Elerian—who also serves as translator and director—from a novella by Remo Rostagno and Marco Baliani.

Kohlhaas runs from 27 August to 4 September, with a press night on 31 August, WhatsOnStage reported, noting the production picked up a five-star review from the outlet earlier this year. Goold noted that his opening lineup reflects the venue’s storied heritage encompassing musical revivals, European repertoire, and classical drama.

I am thrilled to be presenting my first season with a collection of plays that speaks to the Old Vic’s rich history of classical theatre, European repertoire and musical revivals, and I hope my Old Vic will be able to draw on this theatre’s storied legacy of sensational acting in groundbreaking and accessible productions.

The theatre is also introducing a new ticketing scheme called Old Vic New Rush, offering front row tickets for £20 for the first five previews of every main-house show, according to The Guardian.