Donmar Warehouse announces The King's Ransom and a No Man's Land revival with Simon Russell Beale and Rupert Everett
by Best of Theatre Staff on Wednesday 22 July 2026, 12:04 pm in Upcoming and New Shows
The Donmar Warehouse has announced the world premiere of The King's Ransom by Stuart Slade and a major revival of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land starring Simon Russell Beale and Rupert Everett, alongside the full cast for Ilford Boy. Public booking opens at 12pm on Friday 31 July.
The Donmar Warehouse has announced further programming for its 2026/2027 season, with the world premiere of The King's Ransom by Stuart Slade and a major revival of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land starring Simon Russell Beale and Rupert Everett. Artistic Director Tim Sheader and Executive Director Henny Finch made the announcement while The Guilty continues its critically acclaimed run at the Covent Garden theatre.
Opening in December, The King's Ransom is a new play by Bruntwood Prize-winning playwright Stuart Slade, inspired by one of the strangest crime stories in American history: the plot to steal the earthly remains of the King of Rock and Roll. Memphis, 1977. When an enigmatic criminal mastermind offers small-time crook Vince Black the opportunity of a lifetime, Vince assembles a crack team of misfits and dropouts to attempt the heist of the century. Billed as a Southern-fried dark comedy about grief, redemption and spectacularly bad decisions, it is directed by Matthew Dunster, who returns to the Donmar after his sell-out revival of Dealer's Choice. The creative team includes set designer Anna Fleischle, costume designer Jean Chan, lighting designer Sally Ferguson and sound designer Holly Khan. It runs 5 December 2026 to 6 February 2027, with press night on 16 December.
No Man's Land follows in 2027, directed by Patrick Marber, who continues his creative collaboration with the Donmar after After Miss Julie, Don Juan in Soho, his adaptation of Trelawny of the "Wells" and the recent revival of Dealer's Choice. Simon Russell Beale plays Hirst, an acclaimed writer who brings the down-at-heel poet Spooner, played by Rupert Everett in his Donmar debut, back to his Hampstead home for a nightcap. As the night draws in and the alcohol flows, the pair contest memories false and true, until the arrival of two younger men, Foster (Olivier Huband) and Briggs (Jay Simpson), transforms the evening entirely. Designs are by Rae Smith, with lighting by Zoe Spurr. It runs 13 February to 10 April 2027, with press night on 23 February.
The Donmar has also announced the full company for the world premiere of Danny Lee Wynter's Ilford Boy, directed by Tim Sheader. The cast is Lindsey Coulson as Eileen, Cary Crankson as Trevor, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr as Ken, Aaron Gill as Raj, Charlotte Jaconelli as Ann, Sinead Matthews as Jackie, Craig Stein as Patrick, Leo Whitfield-Harris, who makes his professional stage debut as Ted, and Ria Zmitrowicz as Tillie. Set in 90s East London, the play follows mixed-race teenager Ted Martin, growing up in a house full of chaos, laughter and tough love, until the arrival of Patrick and his sense of style, humour and love of show tunes explodes another way to live into view. It runs 10 October to 28 November 2026, with press night on 20 October.
Completing the announcement, playwrights Azuka Oforka and Rafaella Marcus have been named recipients of the 2026 Theatre Royal Haymarket Writers Award, presented in partnership with Access Entertainment. Each receives a full commission to develop a new play, alongside access to the Donmar's artistic team for readings, workshops and collaboration with professional actors. Oforka, whose debut The Women of Llanrumney transferred to London from Sherman Theatre in Cardiff, will write an original play exploring the history and legacy of the Labour Party Black Sections. Marcus, whose debut SAP premiered with Paines Plough at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, will develop a stage adaptation of Natalie Haynes' Trojan War retelling A Thousand Ships.
Tim Sheader and Henny Finch said: "We are delighted today to announce two new shows coming up at the Donmar. We know Matthew Dunster is going to thrill audiences over the festive season with Stuart Slade's new play The King's Ransom based on an outrageous and hilarious true crime story. And in 2027 we look forward to welcoming Patrick Marber back to the Donmar to direct Harold Pinter's masterpiece No Man's Land with Simon Russell Beale, and Rupert Everett making his Donmar debut. And we are also so pleased to be able to announce today the cast for Danny Lee Wynter's Ilford Boy. We look forward to welcoming audiences this Autumn and Winter to experience these productions in our powerfully intimate space."
Public booking for The King's Ransom and No Man's Land opens at 12pm on Friday 31 July, following priority booking for Patrons from 22 July, Best Friends from 27 July, Friends from 28 July, and Access and 35 and Under bookers from 29 July. Tickets are priced £76 (£71), £59 (£54) and £30 (£25), with £20 tickets available to those aged 16 to 35.