Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel to star in new play 'Born With Teeth' in the West End

Set in 1591, Liz Duffy Adams's play is described as "a thrilling imagining of the relationship between two literary icons at odds with their time".

Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who, The Importance of Being Earnest) and Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve, Sex Education) will star as Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare, respectively, in Liz Duffy Adams's new play Born With Teeth in the West End. Performances begin at Wyndham's Theatre on 13 August, running for a limited season until 11 November.

Set in 1591, the play is described as "a thrilling imagining of the relationship between two literary icons at odds with their time".

Directed by Daniel Evans (Quiz, American Buffalo, South Pacific, Our Generation), the production's creative team also includes design by Joanna Scotcher and lighting design by Neil Austin. Further creative team to be announced.

Ncuti Gatwa said: “I’m so excited to be joining Born With Teeth alongside the amazing Edward Bluemel. Liz Duffy Adams has written an exceptional play that is smart, dark, sexy, sharp and funny! There’s a lot to get one’s teeth into. This is like no version of Shakespeare and Marlowe that I’ve ever seen before, and I can’t wait for audiences to join us for the ride”.

Edward Bluemel said: “I feel incredibly proud and excited to be working with Ncuti Gatwa and Daniel Evans on the European premiere of Born With Teeth. To be stepping into the shoes of a young William Shakespeare is a huge thrill for any actor and I can’t wait to get started. When I read Liz Duffy Adams’ script, I was instantly drawn into the high-stakes world of these two rival playwrights and the incredible, creative chemistry they share. There’s a real freshness and vitality to Liz’s writing that speaks directly to our world, and I can’t wait for West End audiences to experience it for the first time”.

Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, Co-Artistic Directors of the Royal Shakespeare Company, said: “We’re so excited to be bringing Liz Duffy Adams’ Born With Teeth to Wyndham's Theatre alongside our partners Playful Productions and Elizabeth Williams for Grain of Sand Productions. As our seventh production to be presented in London in 2025, we look forward to sharing more of the RSC’s work with audiences in the capital and are thrilled that two such extraordinary actors as Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel will be joining us on that journey this summer.”

Check back for Born With Teeth tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Edward Bluemel and Ncuti Gatwa. (Photo courtesy of production)