John Simm will lead a brand-new production of David Harrower’s Blackbird, directed by Matthew Dunster, at the Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath, from Thursday 4 February to Saturday 6 March 2027.
Blackbird is a provocative and infamous play that first premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2005, before transferring to the West End and winning the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play.
Fifteen years ago, Una and Ray had a relationship. He was 41 years old. She was 12.
They haven’t seen each other since. Now, she’s found him again.
Ray has served a jail sentence and lives under a new identity. When Una turns up unexpectedly at Ray’s bleak factory canteen, the memories of their relationship pour forth, threatening to destroy their lives all over again, and wrongfooting the audience at every turn.
John Simm is known to millions for his starring roles in television dramas including Life on Mars, Doctor Who, and Grace. On stage, he has appeared in Jamie Lloyd’s Pinter at the Pinter in the West End, played Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre, and Ebenezer Scrooge in Jack Thorne’s A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic.
Director Matthew Dunster returns to the Ustinov Studio following his acclaimed productions of Hedda, starring Lily Allen, and The Hunger Games: On Stage, adapted by Conor McPherson.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
