The former Royal Shakespeare Company regular, whose stage credits also include The Talking Cure and Six Characters In Search Of An Author, is one of the biggest British stars in the film world, with movies including bad wizard, Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series, The Reader, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, The English Patient and Schindler’s List to his name as well as his soon-to-be-released film version of Shakespeare's Coriolanus.  He was last seen in Theatreland in 2008, when he starred in Yasmina Reza’s comedy God Of Carnage and led the National Theatre production of Oedipus.

The decision to return to the  London stage for the first time in three years comes at a busy time for the 48-year-old actor.  Almost as soon as he comes out of The Tempest, Fiennes will begin preparations for the new James Bond film, which begins shooting in December.

The Tempest, thought by many to be Shakespeare’s final and greatest play, follows Prospero, the usurped Duke of Milan, who has been stranded with his daughter on an island for years. As his deposers pass close to his solitary home on a ship, Prospero summons a storm to bring them crashing into his vengeful lair.

The piece will be directed by acclaimed British theatre-and-film director Trevor Nunn.  It is thought that Trevor is still in the process of selecting the rest of the cast.

Currently showing at The Haymarket is Trevor Nunn's well received production of Flare Path starring Sienna Miller, James Purefoy and Sheridan Smith.

[posted by Louise, 28/03/2011]

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