British heartthrob Rusell Tovey has announced his return to the West End stage, opposite another rising openly gay star, Omari Douglas.
The pair will appear in a new London revival of the play Constellations. The stage show explores a relationship in the context of parallel times and universes, imagining all the dynamics it could have had.
Attitude reports that Douglas and Tovey will join actors Peter Capaldi & Zoë Wanamaker, Sheila Atim & Ivanno Jeremiah, and Anna Maxwell Martin & Chris O’Dowd in repertory, rotating performances as the play’s two leads. They are the only same-sex coupling in the production.
Related: Russell Tovey, Stephen Fry feature in social media-themed Picture of Dorian Gray
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“Reviving Constellations with four brilliant casts in rep – varying the age, ethnicity, sexuality and nationality of the lovers – feels like a thrilling way to help reanimate the West End, offering audiences multiple new interpretations of this life-affirming play about choice,” Michael Longhurst, Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse, the venue hosting the show, said in a statement.
The announcement marks a watermark moment in the struggle against COVID-19, as live public venues continue to reopen. Audiences for Constellations will sit in a socially distanced fashion to avoid any new infections of the virus.
The news also comes as both Tovey and Douglas see their stars on the rise. Omari Douglas became one of the breakout stars of the AIDS drama It’s a Sin earlier this year. His appearance in Constellations will mark the West End debut of the 27-year-old actor.
Russel Tovey, meanwhile, returns to the West End following his 2017 run in Angels in America. Of late, the actor has gravitated more towards work in film and television, appearing in The Good Liar and Supergirl in 2019 and the psychological drama The Sister in 2020.
Kangol2
I’ve been skeptical of Tovey since his anti-femme comments a few years ago, but I have to say, he gave an excellent performance opposite Arinze Kene (!) in the 2016 film The Pass. It’s a sad story but so well acted, and Tovey is one reason it succeeds. I don’t know Omari Douglas’s work but I’ll search it out online now.
sacha99
Omari Doygls was in “It’s a sin”. A brilliant lgbt show set in 80s London. Very moving portrayal centred around the HIV inital outbreak. Watch it immediately!
alvera34s
Secret playground for adults, where you can meet different people – xmeet.fun
rock9221
I agree Kangol2, he has really, consistently amazed me as an actor. I am never ‘not surprised’ by his work. I hope he has grown a bit since some of his remarks on being fem and butch and so on – none us are born perfect, and we all learn as we go.
Squeak
– none of us IS . . .
James
Anything with that condescending moron Russell Tovey, I throw in the garbage.
yendor808
Russell Tovey is an out and proud gay actor. And you are?
Ronbo
Judgmentally challenged.
LumpyPillows
@james you poor, bitter, old queen.
James
Are gay people still trying to make Russell Tovey relevant. GET A LIFE.
Hdtex
Turned you down did he?
Sad.
LumpyPillows
@James You mean the guy with 19 film credits and dozens of TV performances? Remind me, you’re James who?
james7
Im a huge Russell T. fan, and have been ever since i first saw him as a teenager in THE HISTORY BOYS, 2006 movie. Also in the cast was the very young James Corden and Dominic Cooper, both of who have gone on to serious adult acclaim. Russell also played a gay man in an affair with Jonathan Groeff in a short lived but great fun, series set in San Francisco.
Manrico Jimenez
Even though I was Team Richie, I do still also like Russell Tovey. But I am glad Patrick ended up with Richie.
hansniemeijer
Tovey also played in Him and Her, so was playing a str8 character
BoomerMyles
Tovey was heartbreaking in Years and Years, also on HBO Max.