Paul Mescal to reprise role of Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire

Oscar-nominated Irish actor Paul Mescal will reprise his role as Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End.

The production is moving from its previous home at the Almeida Theatre in London, it was announced today.

A Streetcar Named Desire was written by Tennessee Williams, originally performed on Broadway in 1947. It follows the story of two sisters, Blanche and Stella, and Stella's husband Stanley. Blanche hides the fact she has lost her job and slowly develops a mental break with reality as she comes into repeated conflict with Stanley, who is domineering and domestically abusive.

He'll be joined by members of his Almeida Theatre castmates, Patsy Ferran (Summer and Smoke), playing Blanche, Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts), playing Stella, and Dwane Walcott (Our Girl), who plays Mitch, Blanche's love interest and Stanley's poker buddy.

It's director Rebecca Frecknall's first production since Cabaret, which won the Olivier Award and Critics' Circle Theatre Award for best director.

The announcement comes at the heels of a huge win for Mescal. Yesterday, he was nominated for the Oscars' category Best Actor for his role in the 2022 indie film Aftersun. He was nominated alongside fellow Irishman Colin Farrell from The Banshees of Inisherin.

Aftersun. Credit: Sarah Makharine

Mescal has previously starred in miniseries The Normal People and films like God's Creatures and The Lost Daughter. He's been working in theatre since 2017, starring in productions like The Great Gatsby at Dublin's Gate Theatre, The Plough and the Stars in London's Lyric Theatre, and The Lieutenant of Inishmore in Dublin's Gaiety Theatre.

The Maynooth native's upcoming projects include the science fiction thriller Foe directed by Garth Davis and British fantasy drama film Strangers directed by Andrew Haigh.

His continued portrayal of Stanley in the move to West End was made possible by Gladiator 2 director Ridley Scott and Paramount Pictures shifting back the filming schedule for the upcoming film. Mescal is projected to play Lucious, the son of Connie Nielson's Lucille and the nephew of the previous film's antagonist, Emperor Commodus.

A Streetcar Named Desire will run in West End for a limited six weeks, from March 20th to April 29th.

Tickets go on sale for the A Streetcar Named Desire next Wednesday, February 1st.