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Long Day’s Journey Into Night to transfer to West End

Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville star in the acclaimed production.

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Veteran actors Jeremy Irons and Lesley Manville will reprise their roles in Richard Eyre’s acclaimed production of Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night as it transfers from the Bristol Old Vic to London’s Wyndham’s Theatre. The strictly limited run opens on the 27 January 2018 and runs until the 8 April.

The Tyrones’ summer home, August 1912. Haunted by the past but unable to face the truth of the present, the Tyrones and their two sons test the bonds of a family caught in the cycle of love and resentment. As day turns to night and the family indulge in their vices, the truth unravels leaving behind a quartet of ruined lives.

“Over forty years ago I saw Laurence Olivier play James Tyrone,” says Jeremy Irons, who plays James Tyrone. “I never dreamed I would one day be given the opportunity to play him myself. I am so glad I have the chance to work again with Richard Eyre and Lesley Manville on this, one of America’s greatest plays.”

Irons began his career at the Bristol Old Vic in 1969, having since performed in the West End and an Broadway, winning a Tony Award in 1984 for his turn in The Real Thing alongside Glenn Close. He celebrates an Oscar, Tony and Emmy.

Lesley Manville, who plays Mary Tyrone, says: “Shortly after Richard Eyre and I worked together on Ghosts he asked me if I’d be interested in doing Long Day’s Journey Into Night with him at Bristol. Ghosts is a big, emotional and epic play but not even that prepared me for the challenge of O’Neill’s masterpiece which is, by far, the hardest play I have ever done. But at the same time thrilling. I cannot wait to play those scenes again to a wider audience. O’Neill is a genius and Richard Eyre’s production gives nothing but credit to this classic American family saga.”

Manville is an award-winning actor, winning the London’s Film Critics’ Circle Award for British Actress of the Year for her work in 2002’s All or Nothing and 2010’s Another Year, both by director Mike Leigh. In 2012 she received a Olivier Award nomination for her role in Grief at the national Theatre, before winning the award in 2014 for Best Actress for her role in Ghosts.

Director Richard Eyre adds: “I’m excited that I’m having the opportunity to revive a production that I loved. We had a wonderful time doing this play in Bristol and it’s marvellous to be able to share the production with audiences in the West End.”

Eyre is joined by set designer Rob Howell, lighting designer Peter Mumford, and sound designer John Leonard.

Long Day’s Journey Into Night opens at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre on the 27 January 2018 for a strict ten week run. Tickets will be available from 14:00 today (Tuesday 25 July 2017) through Ticketmaster.co.uk.