Kevin Spacey and David Troughton to Star in Old Vic's Inherit the Wind

Kevin Spacey and David Troughton will headline a forthcoming London revival of Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s courtroom drama Inherit the Wind at the Old Vic, where Spacey serves as artistic director. The production will run from September 18 to December 20, with opening night set for October 1, directed by Trevor Nunn.

Spacey will play Henry Drummond (a character based on Clarence Darrow) and Troughton will play Matthew Harrison Brady (based on William Jennings Bryan)in this drama inspired by the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial in which science teacher John Scopes was accused of violating a Tennessee state statute by teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

In addition to Spacey and Troughton, the company includes Paris Arrowsmith, Paul Birchard, Ken Bones, Adam Booth, David Burrows, Sonya Cassidy, Ian Conningham, Sam Cox, Mark Dexter, Mary Doherty, Branwell Donaghey, Janine Duvitski, Sarah Ingram, Nicholas Jones, Sid Livingstone, Simon Lee Phillips, Sam Phillips, Vincent Pirillo, Christopher Ragland, Susan Tracy and Janet Whiteside.

First performed on Broadway in 1955, Inherit the Wind was also made into a popular film starring Spencer Tracy and Gene Kelly in 1960, receiving four Academy Award nominations. A 2007 Broadway revival starred Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy. The Old Vic’s production marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species.

Spacey has starred in Old Vic productions of Speed-the-Plow, National Anthems, The Philadelphia Story, Richard IIand A Moon for the Misbegotten, which subsequently transferred to Broadway. Broadway credits include a Tony-winning performance in Lost in Yonkers, The Iceman Cometh and Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Onscreen, Spacey won Oscars for American Beauty and The Usual Suspects.

Troughton’s theater credits include an award-winning performance in Richard III, Enjoy, Playing with Fire, Measure for Measure, Peter Pan, The Skin of our Teeth, Our Father, The Fool and Loot, as well as numerous productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company.