Max Irons, Rachel Tucker and Shaun Williamson to Lead U.K. Premiere of Beau Willimon’s Political Drama Farragut North

Max Irons, Rachel Tucker and EastEnders star Shaun Williamson are headlining the forthcoming U.K. premiere of Beau Willimon’s political thriller Farragut North. Directed by Guy Unsworth, the play will run at the Southwark Playhouse from September 11 through October 5, 2013, with opening night set for September 13.

Named for a Washington, D.C. subway stop, Farragut North tells the story of Stephen Bellamy (Irons), a ruthlessly ambitious young press secretary whose loyalty is tested as he works the campaign for the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate during a tight primary race. The play is loosely based on the 2004 presidential campaign of Democrat Howard Dean.

Tucker will play Ida, a journalist, and Williamson will play Paul, the campaign manager. The cast also includes Aysha Kala as Molly, Josh O’Connor as Ben, Alain Terzoli as Frank and Waiter, and Andrew Whipp as Tom. Farragut North will be designed by David Woodhead and feature lighting by Richard Howell and sound by Peter Malkin.

Written by Willimon (whose star is on the rise recently thanks to his hit Netflix series House of Cards), Farragut North premiered in 2008 through the Atlantic Theater Company in New York. The play starred Tony winner John Gallagher Jr. and The Good Wife’s Chris Noth. In 2011, the play was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film titled The Ides of March, which starred George Clooney and Ryan Gosling.

Irons (the son of veteran actor Jeremy Irons) has an impressive screen resume that includes The White Queen, Red Riding Hood, Being Julia, Dorian Gray and tThe Host. Tucker’s theatre credits include We Will Rock you, Tonight’s The Night, Rent, The Who’s Tommy and Wicked (in which she played Elphaba on the West End for over 1,000 performances). Williamson is best known for playing Barry Evans in BBC’s long-running soap EastEnders; he made his West End debut in Saturday Night Fever and reprised his role on the national tour.