John Heffernan takes the title role in the premiere of Rory Mullarky’s new play Saint George & the Dragon, directed by Lyndsey Turner and running 4 October to 2 December 2017 at the National’s Olivier Theatre. Full casting for has been announced.
A village. A dragon. A damsel in distress.
Into the story walks George: wandering knight, freedom fighter, enemy of tyrants the world over. One epic battle later and a nation is born. As the village grows into a town, and the town into a city, the myth of Saint George, which once brought a people together, threatens to divide them. Rory Mullarkey creates a new folk tale for an uneasy nation.
John Heffernan plays Saint George. Heffernan’s many other credits include Macbeth, Oppenheimer, Edward II, The Hothouse, Emperor & Galilean and After the Dance onstage, and Crooked House, Eye in the Sky, The Crown, Henry IV, Ripper Street and Dr Strange & Mr Norrell onscreen.
Heffernan is joined in the cast by Suzanne Ahmet, Jason Barnett, Julian Bleach, Luke Brady, Paul Brennen, Joe Caffrey, Paul Cawley, Richard Goulding, Gawn Grainger, Tamzin Griffin, Stephanie Jacob, Olwen May, Victoria Moseley, Conor Neaves, Amaka Okafor,Sharita Oomeer, Jeff Rawle, Kirsty Rider and Grace Saif.
Saint George & the Dragon is directed by Lyndsey Turner and designed by Rae Smith, with choreography by Lynne Page, lighting by Bruno Poet, music by Grant Olding, sound by Christopher Shutt and fight direction by Bret Yount. Mullarkey’s play was the recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Plays Award.
