Ivo Van Hove’s English language world stage premiere of Hanya Yanagihara’s A LITTLE LIFE to open in West End

Photo credit: Charlie Gray

Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions and Playful Productions have announced that Ivo van Hove will stage the English language première of Hanya Yanagihara’s critically acclaimed prize-winning novel, A Little Life at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 25 March-18 June 2023 following previews at Richmond Theatre.

Van Hove directs James Norton (Happy Valley, Grantchester) as Jude, Luke Thompson (Bridgerton, Hamlet) as Willem, Omari Douglas (It’s A Sin, Constellations) as JB, Zach Wyatt (The Witcher, I and You) as Malcolm, Elliot Cowan (The Crown, 2:22 A Ghost Story) as Brother Luke/Doctor Traylor/Caleb, Zubin Varla (Tammy Faye, Equus) as Harold, Nathalie Armin (Force Majeure, The Doctor) as Ana, and Emilio Doorgasingh (Best of Enemies, The Kite Runner) as Andy.

Hanya Yanagihara said: “One of the greatest, most unexpected joys and honours in my life has been watching as more readers than I could ever have imagined have taken A Little Life and its characters into their hearts over the past seven years. One of those readers was the visionary Ivo van Hove, and I’m thrilled he’s bringing his interpretation of the book to London next spring, with the most extraordinary cast I could have hoped for. This is a singular production, unlike anything I’ve seen before on stage; I hope audiences will be as transported and astonished as I was.”

Ivo van Hove commented: “It’s a joy to be returning to the London stage, to a community that has made us feel so welcome, and especially to be bringing Hanya’s incredible novel A Little Life to the stage in the English language for the first time – quite genuinely a dream come true. I’m looking forward to beginning rehearsals with this extraordinary and committed group of actors to reveal the work afresh for audiences from across the UK.”

The production has set & lighting design by Jan Versweyveld, with costumes by An D’Huys, music & sound design by Eric Sleichim, and casting by Julia Horan CDG.

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