Shakespeare Returns to Drury Lane: Sigourney Weaver & Tom Hiddleston Lead
Sigourney Weaver will make her West End debut as the tempestuous sorcerer Prospero in *The Tempest*, while Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell will play the sparring lovers Benedick and Beatrice in *Much Ado About Nothing*, when director Jamie Lloyd brings Shakespeare back to the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane this winter.
Weaver, best known for her roles in Ridley Scott's *Alien
films and James Cameron's *Avatar*, last performed in one of Shakespeare's plays in 1986, playing Portia in an off-Broadway revival of *The Merchant of Venice*. She previously took on the role of Goneril in a travelling production of *King Lear* in 1979, while studying at Stanford. In a 2012 interview, she revealed that she imagined herself playing Henry V while filming *Alien*, stating, "As a woman, Iâll never be cast as Henry V, so this is my *Henry V*."
Lloyd, who is directing both productions as part of his Jamie Lloyd Company *Drury Lane Shakespeare
season, expressed his excitement about Weaver's involvement, saying, "Sigourney knows her Shakespeare, she knows theatre, and I could not be more excited that she has agreed to play this role." He also revealed his "thrill" at having "my dear friends Tom and Hayley" lead the romantic comedy *Much Ado About Nothing*.
*The Tempest
will preview on 7 December, running until 1 February, while *Much Ado About Nothing* previews on 10 February and runs until 5 April.
The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, built in 1763, has a long history of hosting Shakespearean productions. Legends such as David Garrick and other prominent actors of the time graced its stage with the Bard's work.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and his LW Theatre company undertook a £60 million restoration of the theatre, fondly known as The Lane. Webber had expressed his desire to bring Shakespeare back to its historic stage, having been profoundly impacted by a childhood visit to see John Gielgud perform *The Tempest
at The Lane.
Lloyd and Webber's close relationship, forged during their collaboration on the Olivier Award-winning *Sunset Boulevard*, led to Webber's vision becoming reality. "Andrew told me the story about Gielgud snapping Prosperoâs staff on the last night and announcing that The Lane would be lost to musicals forever," Lloyd revealed.
The director described his epiphany about Weaver playing Prospero, saying, "Sigourney Weaver playing Prospero would âcreate theatrical electricity.â" Despite Weaver's long hiatus from the stage, she was enthusiastic about the opportunity, highlighting her unique perspective as a woman playing the powerful sorcerer.
Lloyd was also drawn to Weaver's "commanding presence, huge charisma and that amazing power," believing she could perfectly embody the complexity of the role. He highlighted the "journey" Prospero undertakes, from vengeance to forgiveness and compassion, which resonated with his overall vision for the season: "I just want this to be a really joyful season. And both of the plays are about the hope of the future and not dwelling on the past, maybe," he stated.
Lloydâs close ties to Hiddleston and Atwell further enhance the significance of the season. He directed Hiddleston in *Betrayal
in 2019, which garnered critical acclaim and four Tony Award nominations. Similarly, Lloyd directed Atwell in *The Faith Machine* and *The Pride* earlier in his career. He described working with them as "very meaningful", highlighting their talents and chemistry: "Theyâre both two of the finest of our generation, arenât they? And they know each other well. So thereâs an instant chemistry between the two of them, and I canât wait to see what they come up with for Benedick and Beatrice."
Both productions will be stripped back, with Lloyd and frequent collaborator Soutra Gilmour exploring different aesthetic approaches. While Lloyd did not reveal whether a shipwreck would feature in *The Tempest*, he confirmed that video would not be used for either production.
"Theyâll be stripped down, but no video. Iâm saving all the video energy for *Sunset Boulevard
on Broadway," he explained.
The Shakespeare season will be staged between *Frozen*, which closes on 8 September, and the upcoming musical *Hercules*, scheduled to premiere in summer 2025. It will run for a limited 16 weeks, featuring 25,000 tickets at £25 each, exclusively for under-30s, key workers, and those receiving government benefits.
Lloyd is aware of the historical practice of wealthier individuals claiming these cheaper seats and is determined to ensure the tickets reach the intended recipients. "These are good seats too," he asserted, highlighting the new methods being implemented to guarantee equitable access.
Weaver's involvement in *The Tempest
completes a circle of coincidence, as her first Broadway credit was as an assistant stage manager and understudy in a production of *The Constant Wife*, directed by John Gielgud, the last actor to portray Prospero at Drury Lane.
Rehearsals for *The Tempest
will begin in London on 28 October, following the Broadway opening of *Sunset Boulevard*. Lloyd's Jamie Lloyd Company will produce the Shakespeare season independently, without ATG Entertainment's participation.
