{"id":79438,"date":"2025-05-06T15:09:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T15:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/79438\/"},"modified":"2025-05-06T15:09:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T15:09:09","slug":"ben-daniels-to-star-in-man-and-boy-at-londons-national-theatre-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/79438\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Daniels to star in Man and Boy at London\u2019s National Theatre in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ben Daniels<\/a> will lead the cast of Man and Boy<\/a> at the National Theatre in 2026, as part of a major new season<\/a> unveiled by incoming artistic director Indhu Rubasingham.<\/p>\n

The Terence Rattigan drama, staged in the Dorfman Theatre, marks a powerful opening chapter in Rubasingham\u2019s tenure, with 16 productions announced across the year.<\/p>\n

Directed by Anthony Lau in his National Theatre debut, Man and Boy is a taut psychological drama exploring power, deceit and the fraught relationship between a father and his estranged son. Daniels plays Gregor Antonescu, a charismatic yet morally bankrupt financier whose business empire is on the brink of collapse. Seeking refuge in his son\u2019s modest New York apartment, Antonescu manipulates those around him in a last-ditch attempt to save his reputation\u2014at any cost.<\/p>\n

Set against the backdrop of 1930s financial scandals and written in the early 1960s, Man and Boy remains chillingly resonant in its dissection of capitalism, corruption and emotional abandonment. Rattigan\u2019s unflinching critique of patriarchal authority and personal ambition makes this revival especially timely as we near the 50th anniversary of the playwright\u2019s death in 1977.<\/p>\n

In staging Man and Boy in the Dorfman Theatre, Rubasingham\u2019s programming underscores her intention to re-examine canonical texts through a contemporary lens, with Lau\u2014best known for his acclaimed revivals of The Good Person of Szechwan<\/a> (Lyric Hammersmith), The Crucible & Miss Saigon (Sheffield Theatre) \u2014offering a fresh perspective on one of Rattigan\u2019s darker, lesser-known plays.<\/p>\n

Daniels, known to screen audiences for major roles in TV series The Exorcist, House of Cards, Law & Order: UK and Amazon\u2019s The Rings of Power, is a celebrated stage actor. He recently starred in Doubt: A Parable<\/a> opposite Maxine Peake (photos<\/a>) at Theatre Royal Bath, and in Medea<\/a> in the West End alongside Sophie Okonedo (reviews<\/a>). His previous National Theatre credits include The Normal Heart and All My Sons.<\/p>\n

Further casting and performance dates for Man and Boy at the National Theatre will be announced in due course.<\/p>\n

More about Man and Boy <\/a>at the National Theatre, Londo<\/strong>n<\/p>\n

Sign-up for booking alerts, offers & news about Man and Boy and other shows:<\/b> <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0Main photo: Ben Daniels. Photo provided by National Theatre.<\/p>\n

Related News<\/p>\n

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