Sophie Okonedo is feeling the nerves for her latest theatre role (Picture: PA)
Sophie Okonedo has revealed her nerves at taking on the lead role in Medea in the new Soho Place theatre.
The Hotel Rwanda actress, 54, will play the titular character of Medea in the Greek tragedy, as she seeks revenge on her husband, Jason of the Argonauts, after he leaves her for another woman.
All three of the male characters – Jason, Creon and Aegeus – will be played by Olivier nominee Ben Daniels, 58, in the first new theatre to open in the West End in 50 years.
Tony award winner and Oscar nominee Sophie said: ‘I am really excited and a touch nervous to be playing Medea.
‘I’m buoyed by the fact I’m working with two of my closest friends and long-term collaborators, Dominic Cooke and Ben Daniels.’
Olivier award-winning director Dominic Cooke revealed he is looking forward to seeing the ‘explosive on-stage partnership’ between Sophie and Ben again after they co-starred in Haunted Child at the Royal Court in 2011, as well as the BBC’s The Hollow Crown in 2015, which was directed by Dominic.
The actress will play the titular role (Picture: Karwai Tang)
He said: ‘I have been friends with Sophie Okonedo since we were in our teens. We’ve worked together many times, including on Arabian Nights at The Young Vic in 1998 and The Hollow Crown: Wars Of The Roses for the BBC in 2015.
‘Sophie is one of our most visceral, emotionally connected actors, and I have long thought she’d be a brilliant Medea. I am over the moon that it’s now happening.’
Ticketholders will get to see the Euripides play Medea in the brand new 602-seat Soho Place theatre, as it becomes the first theatre to open in the West End in five decades.
Sophie added: ‘I was lucky enough to have [owner] Nica Burns show me around the new @sohoplace theatre while it was still being built, and I was so impressed by the space that I signed up immediately to perform there.’
Tickets from Medea go on sale on Wednesday and start from £25, with the production set to run from February 11 until April 22 2023.
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Soho Place is the first new theatre to open in London’s West End in 50 years.