Ben Whishaw To Star In New Play At Jerwood

Cock, a new play by Mike Bartlett, will open in the Jerwood theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court on 18 November (previews from 13 November). Directed by James Macdonald, the cast will include Ben Whishaw, with design by Miriam Buether and lighting by Peter Mumford.

When John takes a break from his boyfriend, he accidentally meets the girl of his dreams. Filled with guilt and indecision, he decides there is only one way to straighten this out...

Mike Bartlett's punchy new story takes a playful, candid look at one man's sexuality and the difficulties that arise when you realise you have a choice.

Mike Bartlett's previous work includes Contractions, My Child (both Royal Court) and Artefacts (Bush). He has worked with various companies including Paines Plough, Soho and Hampstead Theatres. He was the Pearson Writer in Residence at the Royal Court in 2007, and is a graduate of the Royal Court's Young Writers Programme.

Ben Whishaw's stage credits include ...Some Trace of Her (NT), Leaves of Glass (Soho), The Seagull (NT), Mercury Fur (Paines Plough) and Hamlet (Old Vic). His film credits include Bright Star (dir. Jane Campion), Brideshead Revisited (dir. Julian Jarrold) and Perfume (dir. Tom Tykwer), while his TV credits include Criminal Justice (BBC TV) and Nathan Barley (Talkback/Channel 4).

For the Royal Court, James Macdonald has directed Drunk Enough To Say I Love You, Dying City, Fewer Emergencies, Lucky Dog, Blood and Blasted. His other directing credits include Dido, Queen of Carthage, The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other (both NT), Glengarry GLen Ross (West End), Exiles (NT) and A Number (New York Theatre Workshop). James Macdonald was Associate Director of the Royal Court from 1992 to 2007.