Brian Cox to star in Long Day’s Journey into Night revival in West End

Brian Cox is to star in a new production of Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night in the West End.

The Emmy-award winning actor Brian Cox will star as James Tyrone in Eugene O’Neill’s magnum opus, widely considered one of the greatest American plays of the 20th Century.

This new production, directed by Jeremy Herrin, will preview at Wyndham’s Theatre from 19 March, with opening night on Tuesday 2 April. Tickets are on sale now here.

Joining Cox on the cast are Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning actress Patricia Clarkson (Sharp Objects) will star as matriarch Mary Tyrone alongside Laurie Kynaston (Spring Awakening, Fool Me Once) as Edmund, BAFTA award-nominee Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) as James Jr and Louisa Harland (Derry Girls) as Cathleen.

Often regarded as the greatest American play of the 20th Century, O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize-winning piece depicts a summer day in the life of the Tyrones, closely based on O’Neill’s own dysfunctional family. Moving and inspiring in equal measure, O’Neill’s masterpiece is a compelling story of love, hate, betrayal, addiction and the impossible fragility of family bonds.

Long Day’s Journey into Night is designed by Lizzie Clachan with further creative team to be announced.

Brian Cox said: “It has long been an ambition of mine to play Eugene O’Neill’s flawed patriarch James Tyrone, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to do so on a West End stage. I’m a great admirer of Jeremy Herrin’s work and I am looking forward to us delving into O’Neill’s masterpiece together.”

Jeremy Herrin added: “A great play is always relevant and ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ is, it’s often argued, the greatest play of the 20th Century. With its searing honesty and blistering depth of emotion, it must be up there.

“What is impossible to argue with is that we have the best cast and, in Lizzie Clachan, one of the most exciting designers in the country, to discover what makes O’Neill’s masterwork relevant for now.

“I can’t wait to bring this classic to life. I anticipate a feast of fine acting and vivid performances in what I hope to be a high definition production.”

For more information and tickets, visit longdaysjourneylondon.com