John Simm Will Lead BLACKBIRD at Theatre Royal Bath Ustinov Studio In February 2027

John Simm stars in a brand-new production of David Harrower's infamous and provocative play, announced for the Ustinov Studio in February 2027.

Fifteen years ago, Una and Ray had a relationship.
He was 41 years old. She was 12.

They haven't set eyes on each other since.
Now, she's found him again.

Ray has served a jail sentence and lives under a new identity. When Una turns up unexpectedly at Ray's bleak factory canteen, the memories of their relationship pour forth, threatening to destroy their lives all over again, and wrongfooting the audience at every turn…

John Simm is known to millions for his starring roles in much-loved television dramas including DI Sam Tyler in Life on Mars, The Master in Doctor Who and the eponymous DS Roy Grace. On stage he has starred in Jamie Lloyd's Pinter at the Pinter in the West End, played the title role in Macbeth at the Chichester Festival Theatre and Ebenezer Scrooge in Jack Thorne's adaptation of A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic.

Blackbird premiered at King's Theatre as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, in August 2005, and transferred to the Albery Theatre in London's West End in 2006, where it won the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. 

Matthew Dunster returns to the Ustinov Studio fresh from  his triumphant production of Hedda, starring Lily Allen, and Conor McPherson's The Hunger Games: On Stage