Adrian Scarborough News

NATIONAL THEATRE: JANUARY - MARCH 2010 Simon Russell Beale and Fiona Shaw lead the cast of Boucicault's LONDON ASSURANCE, directed by Nicholas Hytner in the Olivier

Olivier and Tony Award-winning actor Mark Rylance joins the company of Simon McBurney's production of Endgame as Hamm, taking over the role from Richard Briers. Simon McBurney will now play the role of Clov for the duration of the run. Rylance and McBurney will be joined by Miriam Margolyes as previously announced, and Tom Hickey as Nagg. To facilitate the cast changes, the production will now open on 15 October, with previews from 2 October, and run until 5 December.

The National Theatre in the U.K. is reporting that actor Richard Griffiths will replace Michael Gambon in the thier production of Alan Bennett's The Habit of Art. Griffiths will be taking over the role of poet WH Auden opposite Alex Jennings as Benjamin Britten. Michael Gambon is said to be withdrawing from the production due to health reasons. The Nicholas Hytner-directed production is slated to begin previews on November 5.

Olivier and Tony Award-winning actor Mark Rylance joins the company of Simon McBurney's production of Endgame as Hamm, taking over the role from Richard Briers. Simon McBurney will now play the role of Clov for the duration of the run. Rylance and McBurney will be joined by Miriam Margolyes as previously announced, and Tom Hickey as Nagg. To facilitate the cast changes, the production will now open on 15 October, with previews from 2 October, and run until 5 December.

Richard Briers pulls out of 'career-closing' Endgame, Hamlet makes a 3D move, and Ruthie Henshall heads out on tour. Miriam Zendle reports.

Olivier and Tony Award-winning actor Mark Rylance joins the company of Simon McBurney's production of Endgame as Hamm, taking over the role from Richard Briers. Simon McBurney will now play the role of Clov for the duration of the run. Rylance and McBurney will be joined by Miriam Margolyes as previously announced, and Tom Hickey as Nagg. To facilitate the cast changes, the production will now open on 15 October, with previews from 2 October, and run until 5 December.

The veteran character actor will be directed by Simon McBurney in the Beckett classic at the Duchess.

Come April, the film of the Tony Award-winning play The History Boys will be available on DVD.