Marc Warren to Star in London Stage Adaptation of Cool Hand Luke

Marc Warren (Hustle, Mad Dogs) will play the title role in a new stage adaptation of Cool Hand Luke, which will have its world premiere at London’s Aldwych Theatre. The play, written by Emma Reeves and based on the novel by Donn Pearce, will begin previews on September 23 and open on October 3, directed by Andrew Loudon.

Joining Warren will be Golden Globe nominee Lisa Eichhorn (Yanks, The Europeans) as Mrs. Jackson, Lee Boardman (Coronation Street) as Dragline, Rob Falconer as Bull Bill, Joshua McCord as Rabbit, Nathan Osgood as Carr, Tom Silburn as Curly, David Sturzaker as Society Red, Richard Brake as Boss Godfrey and Kenneth Jay as Boss Kean.

Cool Hand Luke is the story of a World War II veteran turned convict and rebel, whose unquenchable spirit and refusal to be broken by the system becomes part of his fellow convicts’ mythology of survival. A 1967 film version of Pearce’s novel starred Paul Newman.

The production will feature musical direction by Reverend Bazil Meade, founder of the London Community Gospel Choir.