The acclaimed new play Grace Pervades by David Hare, featuring Ralph Fiennes in the lead role, is set to transfer from Theatre Royal Bath to London’s West End. The production will begin performances at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in April 2026, with specific dates to be announced later. This move marks the West End debut for the play, which explores a pivotal chapter in British theatre history.
Details of the Original Production and Cast
The world premiere of Grace Pervades was staged at Theatre Royal Bath in June and July 2025 as part of a season programmed by Ralph Fiennes. The play stars Fiennes as Henry Irving, a renowned Victorian stage actor, alongside Miranda Raison, who portrays Ellen Terry, Irving’s famous theatrical partner. The Bath ensemble also included Sharif Afifi, Tom Kanji, Harriet Leitch, Ashley McGuire, Jordan Metcalfe, Jo Mousley, Damian Myerscough, Guy Paul, Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, Saskia Strallen, and Kathryn Wilder.
Creative Team and Production Collaborators
The production is directed by Jeremy Herrin in collaboration with his company, Second Half Productions, and produced by Theatre Royal Bath Productions, Len Blavatnik, Danny Cohen for Access Entertainment, and Second Half Productions. The creative team features renowned designer Bob Crowley (set), Fotini Dimou (costumes), Peter Mumford (lighting), Elizabeth Purnell (sound), and composer Paul Englishby, supported by casting director Jessica Ronane CDG, associate director Joe Lichtenstein, and movement director Lucy Cullingford.
Synopsis and Historical Context of Grace Pervades
Grace Pervades tells the dramatic story of Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, who were the foremost theatrical stars of the Victorian era, along with the lives of Ellen’s children Edith Craig and Edward Gordon Craig, who themselves made significant contributions to British theatre’s evolution. The play highlights their intertwined personal and professional journeys, illuminating an important creative legacy.
Upcoming Season and Other Projects Featuring Ralph Fiennes
This production is part of a three-play season curated by Ralph Fiennes for Theatre Royal Bath in 2025, which also includes Shakespeare’s As You Like It and Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s Small Hotel, the latter featuring Fiennes himself. Additionally, Fiennes stars in the upcoming film The Choral, written by Alan Bennett and directed by Nicholas Hytner, which is scheduled for release in UK cinemas in November.
Significance of the West End Transfer
The transfer of Grace Pervades to the West End underscores the play’s critical success and highlights Ralph Fiennes’ ongoing commitment to both classical and contemporary theatre. The West End run will bring this compelling exploration of Victorian theatre history to a wider audience, continuing to elevate the legacies of Irving, Terry, and their descendants. Further casting announcements for the London production will be made in due course.
