American Buffalo, Wyndham's Theatre ★★★★★

Below is our preview, giving background information about American Buffalo. Click here to read our review.

Another famous redhead stars in a David Mamet revival on the London stage. Following the surprising success of Lindsay Lohan's stint in Speed The Plow, Hollywood megastar Damian Lewis will take a break from film and television roles for a short ten and half week run of American Buffalo in the West End. It will be his first outing on the London stage since 2009's Misanthrope and the actor explains ‘I wanted to get back to the stage, but I didn’t want to do it unless it was a great play'. In a truly star-studded West End cast, Lewis will be joined on stage by The Boat that Rocked actor Tom Sturridge (Sienna Miller's husband) and American film actor John Goodman, famous for his roles in hit family films such as The Flintstones.

American Buffalo is certainly a classic. Named best play by the New York Drama Critics' award adapted into a hit film adaptation starring Dustin Hoffman it derides the idea of the American Dream. The show buzzes with Mamet's characteristic wit and verve in a sharp, snappy exploration of petty crime. Three small time scammers attempt a major heist and the result is trickery, humour, and, as greed takes over, violence. 

Tom Sturridge and John Goodman

This will be the West End debut for Golden Globe and Emmy winning American movie actor John Godoman. Having worked on a range of projects including sitcom Roseanne and films directed by the Coen brothers, such as The Big Lebowski, Goodman will bring plenty of experience and talent to this already impressive cast and says "David Mamet is a writer I have loved throughout my career and so I’m thrilled to be bringing his work alive on stage.”. Tom Sturridge made his name in films including Being Julia and the recent adaptation of Kerouac's On The Road. He has since proved his stage credentials with a Tony-nominated lead role in Orphans on Broadway.

Stage and screen actor Damian Lewis

A household name thanks to his captivatingly tense portrayal of Nicholas Brody in Emmy and Golden Globe winning series Homeland, Lewis has also impressed on stage with roles in Ibsen, Shakespeare and Moliere. After graduating form Guildhall school of Music and Drama he joined the RSC, before being spotted by Stephen Spielberg and subsequently cast in a breakthrough role in Band of Brothers. Along with stage and television, Lewis is also starring in upcoming Hollywood blockbusters including The Silent Storm and Our Kind Of Traitor. Such high-octane action still comes alongside more classic drama: Lewis is playing Henry VIII opposite Mark Rylance in the dazzling BBC adaptation of Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies, which is sure to make him an even hotter name in 2015. With such a focus on film and television, the closest Lewis has been to the London stage in recent years was supporting his wife Helen McCory on the sidelines as she stormed the National Theatre playing a tortured Medea. It is exciting to see such an established actor return to the intimacy of the theatre.

Director Daniel Evans

American Buffalo will be a creative reunion as actor turned director Daniel Evans will work Damian Lewis for the first time since the pair were at drama school together. "I've admired his work ever since we trained together at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and I know his particular qualities as an actor will offer us something very special in this part.", Evans explains. With an Oliver award plus a Tony nomination for his acting work, Evan offers a broad perspective as a director. After a successful stage career, with roles at the RSC, National, Donmar and Royal Court, he moved out of the spotlight to instead take creative helm. He's been Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatre since 2009, which, under his reign, has scooped two consecutive Best Regional Theatre awards.

American Buffalo: tickets

The combination of three famous actors, the revival of a classic play and a short run makes American Buffalo a hot ticket. Book fast to avoid disappointment.