Donmar Warehouse’s Mary Stuart will transfer to Apollo

Published Wednesday 24 August 2005 at 17:30 by Alistair Smith

The Donmar Warehouse production of Mary Stuart, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, is to transfer to the Apollo Theatre from October 7.

It marks Michael Grandage’s first West End transfer from the Covent Garden venue since he took over from Sam Mendes as artistic director in 2002. It will be the second Friedrich Schiller revival on Shaftesbury Avenue this year, following the huge success of Grandage and Sheffield Theatres’ production of Don Carlos at the Gielgud.

Grandage commented: “It gives me enormous pleasure to know that Schiller’s plays will continue to dominate the West End when Phyllida Lloyd’s brilliant production of Mary Stuart transfers to the Apollo Theatre next month. It is an opportunity to carry on our efforts to get the Donmar’s work seen by as many people as possible in London and around the country.”

The play, which stars Janet McTeer as Mary Queen of Scots and Harriet Walter as Elizabeth I, will open on October 19, following previews from October 7, and is booking until January 14. The transfer also marks the Donmar’s first collaboration with US associate Arielle Tepper who is producing the show at the Apollo. Tepper’s Broadway credits as producer include Spamalot and Pillowman.

Mary Stuart’s arrival will also mean the end of the road for the Apollo’s current resident - The Big Life. The West End’s first all-black British musical has posted closing notices and will finish its run at the venue on October 1.