James McAvoy and Nigel Harman will return to the West End next year to star in Richard Greenberg’s Three Days Of Rain, which plays at the Apollo theatre from 30 January to 9 May (press night 10 February).
Three Days Of Rain, which received its UK premiere at the Donmar Warehouse in 1999, explores how the private worlds of one generation are reinterpreted by the next. The play follows Walker Janeway and sister Nan who reunite for the reading of their father’s will in the Manhattan loft where he lived. A wealthy architect, Ned’s legacy is an iconic house designed with his late business partner Theo. Joined by Theo’s son Pip, they discover Ned’s diary which contains the mysterious words ‘three days of rain’, the only clue to the truth about their parents’ past. The trio of actors play characters in both generations.
McAvoy, who plays both Walker and father Ned, was last seen on the London stage in Breathing Corpses at the Royal Court in 2005 and appeared with Harman in Privates On Parade at the Donmar Warehouse in 2001. But BAFTA-nominated McAvoy is now best known for his big screen appearances which include the high profile films Atonement, The Last King Of Scotland, Wanted, Becoming Jane and Starter For Ten.
Since his time playing Dennis Rickman in soap EastEnders, Harman (Pip/Theo) has frequented the London stage in Guys And Dolls at the Piccadilly, The Caretaker at the Tricycle and, this year, The Common Pursuit at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
The pair – who will be joined in the cast by an as-yet unannounced actress – are directed in Three Days Of Rain by Jamie Lloyd, Associate Director at the Donmar Warehouse, who previously directed Harman in The Caretaker and in Michael Grandage’s production of Guys And Dolls, for which he was Assistant Director. Lloyd’s other directorial credits include The Lover & The Collection at the Comedy and Piaf at the Donmar, which has just transferred to the Vaudeville.
Playwright Greenberg’s numerous plays include Take Me Out, Night And Her Stars, The American Plan, The Author’s Voice and The Bloodletters.
Currently at the Apollo is the new stage adaptation of Rain Man, starring Josh Hartnett and Adam Godley, which is booking until 20 December.
CB