Mark Rylance Taking Wife's Play FARINELLI AND THE KING to the West End

According to the Daily Mail, Mark Rylance is bringing FARINELLI AND THE KING, which ends its run at Shakespeare's Globe this weekend, to the West End. The production will begin at the Duke of York's Theatre in September.

Written by Rylance's wife Claire van Kampen, FARINELLI AND THE KING is described on the Globe's website: "Italy, 1731. Farinelli, the world's most famous castrato, is rich, adored and lauded with honours. His divine voice has the power to captivate all who hear it. Spain, 1737. King Philippe V lies awake. The Queen, desperate to relieve her husband of his insomnia and depression, begs the castrato to come and sing to the king. The effect is transformational. Philippe is healed, held captive by Farinelli's voice -- but so is Farinelli... This intriguing true story is re-told in Claire van Kampen's sumptuous new play, replete with many of the arias first sung by Farinelli."

Rylance, who just starred in the BBC's WOLF HALL miniseries, last appeared in the West End (and on Broadway) in Shakespeare's RICHARD III and TWELFTH NIGHT.

Among his past stage credits are JERUSALEM and LA BETE, as well as Broadway's BOEING-BOEING and off-Broadway's TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA and HENRY V.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski