Hugh Bonneville returns to the West End in SHADOWLANDS
BAFTA, Primetime Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-nominated actor Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) will make a return to the West End next year, starring in William Nicholson’s beloved play SHADOWLANDS, playing at the Aldwych Theatre from 5 February-9 May 2026.
SHADOWLANDS is about C.S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia) whose orderly academic life as an Oxford Don is upended by the arrival of the spirited American poet, Joy Davidman. What begins as a meeting of minds becomes an uplifting and powerful journey of love and the fragile beauty of life.
The critically acclaimed production was originally produced by Chichester Festival Theatre in 2019 and directed by Rachel Kavanaugh.
Hugh Bonneville said: "Under Rachel Kavanaugh’s direction, I am thrilled to be revisiting William Nicholson’s beautiful play about love and loss as we bring the show to London audiences at The Aldwych. This theatre holds a special place in my heart as it’s where I saw my first Shakespeare, Peter Brook’s legendary RSC production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1970.”
Based on a true story, SHADOWLANDS is written by William Nicholson and was adapted from his own original BAFTA Award-winning TV Movie. It soon became a West End smash-hit winning the Evening Standard Award for Best Play, followed by a triumphant Tony Award-winning Broadway transfer. In 1993, the play was adapted into a major feature film directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger, which subsequently won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film.
Casting is by Annelie Powell CDG, with further casting to be announced.
