Photo Flash: In Rehearsal with THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING UK Tour
Following acclaimed runs at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival, Oxford Playhouse and 2015 VAULT Festival, Dawn State Theatre Company presents the UK tour of The Man Who Would Be King, an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's novella. Christopher Birks and Dan Nicholson reprise their roles in Dan Coleman's production, which tours to 14 venues around the UK this autumn, starting at Greenwich Theatre on 20 September. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the actors in rehearsal below!
This is the story of Peachy Carnehan (Dan Nicholson) and Daniel Dravot (Christopher Birks), soldiers-for-hire amidst the shifting borders of the Middle East. Tired of the mercenary life, Peachy and Daniel have come up with a plan, head to Northern Afghanistan, enslave the natives, and install themselves as kings. Dawn State Theatre Company combines searing text, bold physicality and original music to bring Kipling's ground-breaking debut novella to life, in a thrilling new play exploring Britain's place in the world today.
Joseph Rudyard Kipling remains one of Britain's most popular authors. Writing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet and novelist. His best known works include The Jungle Book, The White Man's Burden and the poem If-. His ground-breaking debut novella The Man Who Would Be King was written in 1888 and was later turned into the classic 1975 film of the same name starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine.
Photo Credit: Karla Gowlett
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Christopher Birks and Dan Coleman (director)
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Christopher Birks and Dan Nicholson
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Christopher Birks and Dan Nicholson
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Christopher Birks and Dan Nicholson

Christopher Birks and Dan Nicholson

Christopher Birks
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Christopher Birks, Dan Coleman (director) and Dan Nicholson
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Dan Coleman (director) and Christopher Birks
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Dan Nicholson and Christopher Birks

Dan Nicholson and Christopher Birks
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Dan Nicholson and Dan Coleman (director)

Rehearsals for THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING
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JESSE BARNETT at St Pancras Old Church - London St Pancras Old Church (9/03-9/03) |
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Introductions Grand Lodge Lower Theatre (8/07-8/30) |
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The Hanging Stars at St Matthias Music - London St Matthias Church, Stoke Newington (11/13-11/13) |
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Claudia Buckley Tour 2026 - Stranraer Ryan Leisure Centre (11/22-11/22) |
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Home Alone 2: Lost in New York The Royal Albert Hall (12/12-12/12) |
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Baga Chipz - Bagz to Riches - High Peak New Mills Art Theatre (10/09-10/09) |
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Future Makers The Royal Albert Hall (11/04-11/04) |
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Thursday Comedy Club London | Covent Garden, July 2026 Comedy Carnival Covent Garden (7/16-7/16) |
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Baga Chipz - Bagz to Riches - Exeter Barnfield Theatre Ltd (9/10-9/10) |
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G4 Christmas 2026 - Beverley Minster Beverley Minster (11/14-11/14) |









