The cast for Matthew Warchus' revival of Yasmina Reza's Art, beginning performances December 10 prior to an official opening December 20, will comprise Rufus Sewell, Tim Key and Paul Ritter, as three friends who argue over the all-white painting one of them buys.
Warchus also directed the play's original English-language production, which opened at Wyndham's Theatre in 1996, when it starred Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Ken Stott. It went on to run for eight years at Wyndham's and the Whitehall Theatre, featuring many more casts, and was also a Tony-winning success on Broadway, where its original cast featured Alan Alda, Victor Garber and Alfred Molina.
Sewell, who plays Serge, was most recently seen on the London stage in Closer at the Donmar Warehouse. He has been seen on Broadway in Brian Friel's Translations and Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll (for which he was Tony-nominated, reprising a role he had originated in London and where he won an Olivier and Evening Standard Award). He can currently be seen playing Lord Melbourne in the ITV drama Victoria, and he is filming the second series of the successful Amazon drama The Man in the High Castle (for which he received a Critics Choice nomination for Best Supporting Actor).
Tim Key, who plays Yvan, won the Edinburgh Comedy Award (formerly the Perrier award) in 2009 for his comedy show. He has since had three books of his work published and made three series of his BBC Radio 4 show, Tim Key's Late Night Poetry Programme. Onstage he was previously seen at the Old Vic in Daniel Kitson’s two-hander, Tree.
Paul Ritter, who plays Marc, was last seen on the London stage as John Major in the original London cast of The Audience opposite Helen Mirren (Gielgud Theatre). He was previously seen at the Old Vic in Warchus' production of The Norman Conquests, which subsequently transferred to Broadway, where he was Tony-nominated.
The original creative team, including designer Mark Thompson, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, sound designer Mic Poole and composer Gary Yershon, are also being reunited for the production.
To book tickets, which are on sale through February 18, 2017, contact the box office on 0844 871 7628 or visit oldvictheatre.com.
