BAFTA, Primetime Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-nominated actor Hugh Bonneville will return to the West End next year to star in William Nicholson’s beloved play SHADOWLANDS — the moving story of C.S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia) whose orderly life as an Oxford academic is transformed by his meeting with the spirited American poet Joy Davidman. What begins as an intellectual connection blossoms into an uplifting and deeply human journey of love and the fragile beauty of life.

The critically acclaimed production — originally produced by Chichester Festival Theatre in 2019 and directed by Rachel Kavanaugh — will play a limited engagement at London’s Aldwych Theatre from Tuesday 5 February to Saturday 9 May 2026. Further casting for the West End run will be announced soon.

Tickets for this highly anticipated production go on sale at 10am on Wednesday 15 October 2025.

Hugh Bonneville said:

“Under Rachel Kavanaugh’s direction, I am thrilled to be revisiting William Nicholson’s beautiful play about love and loss as we bring the show to London audiences at The Aldwych. This theatre holds a special place in my heart as it’s where I saw my first Shakespeare — Peter Brook’s legendary RSC production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1970.”

Renowned British actor Hugh Bonneville is best known for his acclaimed performances as Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey and as Mr. Brown in the Paddington films. His screen credits also include Notting Hill, Iris, The Monuments Men, and the BBC comedies Twenty Twelve and W1A. On stage, Bonneville has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company (The Alchemist, The Two Gentlemen of Verona), at the Donmar Warehouse (Habeas Corpus), the Old Vic (King Lear), Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and most recently in Uncle Vanya in Berkeley and Washington D.C. He is a patron of the National Youth Theatre and the author of the children’s book Rory Sparks and the Elephant in the Room.

Based on a true story, SHADOWLANDS is written by William Nicholson, adapted from his original BAFTA Award-winning television film. The stage version became a West End hit, winning the Evening Standard Award for Best Play, followed by a Tony Award-winning Broadway transfer. In 1993, it was adapted into a major motion picture directed by Richard Attenborough, starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger, which went on to win the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film.

Produced by Jonathan Church Theatre Productions, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, and Tilted, SHADOWLANDS is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, with casting by Annelie Powell CDG. Originally produced by Chichester Festival Theatre.