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Further casting announced for Mamet’s Bitter Wheat

Here's who's joining the Academy Award-nominated John Malkovich in the production.

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Producers of Bitter Wheat, a new play about a depraved Hollywood mogul by acclaimed American playwright David Mamet, have confirmed further casting details for the upcoming production.

Earlier this year it was announced that John Malkovich is set to return to the stage for the first time in 33 years in the production, playing the lead role of Barney Fein.

Joining Malkovich in Bitter Wheat will be Doon Mackichan as Sondra, Ioanna Kimbook as Yung Kim Li, Alexander Arnold as Roberto, Teddy Kempner as Doctor Wald, Matthew Pidgeon as The Writer and Zephryn Taitte as Charles Arthur Brown.

Bitter Wheat opens at the Garrick Theatre on 7 June 2019.

Malkovich was recently seen as Hercule Poirot in BBC One’s Agatha Christie adaptation, The ABC Murders. The three-part series saw the beloved detective taunted by a serial killer. Throughout the investigation, everything about Poirot was called into question – from his authority to his integrity and identity. A grittier take on the stalwart of British literature, critics praised Malkovich’s magnificent performance.

Of course, Malkovich has a long history of playing complicated characters in movies like Burn After Reading, Dangerous Liaisons and Being John Malkovich. And Bitter Wheat is no different.

Malkovich will embody corrupt studio head Barney Fein in the hellish world of Hollywood, where everything is for sale except the awards – which are for rent.

Doon Mackichan, who is well known for television roles such as Smack the Pony and Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, will play Fein’s assistant Sondra.

Ioanna Kimbook will make her West End debut in Bitter Wheat, playing the role of Yung Kim Li.

Taking on the role of Roberto will be Alexander Arnold, whose recent theatre credits include Shopping and F***ing at the Lyric Hammersmith, Crushed Shells and Mud at Southwark Playhouse, Luna Gale and Four Minutes Twelve Seconds at Hampstead Theatre.

Teddy Kempner will take on the role of Doctor Wald. Kempner’s theatre credits include Caroline, or Change at the Playhouse, Hampstead Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre.

Matthew Pidgeon will be playing the role of The Writer in the play. Pidgeon’s theatre credits include Local Hero and The Glass Menagerie at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh and This House in Chichester West End and on tour.

Completing the announcement is the news that Zephryn Taitte will take on the role of Charles Arthur Brown. Taitte has just completed a major tour of Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross

The plot of Bitter Wheat follows Barney Fein, a bloated monster, who like his predecessor devours the young actors he lures into his cave. See Fein fall from power to shame in a mythic journey that’s been compared to The Odyssey.

Created and directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer David Mamet, Bitter Wheat is set to tackle the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Among Mamet’s previous plays are Glengarry Glen RossSpeed-the-PlowAmerican Buffalo, Race, The Penitent and Oleanna.

Bitter Wheat will run at London’s Garrick Theatre from 7 June – 14 September 2019. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.co.uk.