John Hurt and Kenneth Branagh to Play Father & Son in THE ENTERTAINER

According to The Daily Mail, John Hurt and Kenneth Branagh will play father and son in John Osborne's THE ENTERTAINER, beginning August 20 as part of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's first season at The Garrick. Rob Ashford directs.

"It's one of the great plays about Britain in decline,' Hurt told the Mail, adding that a decade away from his last stage appearance in KRAPP'S LAST TAPE, he still gets scared before the curtain goes up. "I get nervous; frightened. I get worried about actors who don't get nervous! I think only idiots don't get nervous."

Hurt will play 'Billy Rice' opposite Branagh as 'Archie Rice.' The 76-year-old actor previously starred in the original production of playwright Osborne's INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE and has appeared onstage with the great Laurence Olivier, who originated the role of 'Archie.'

Branagh excitedly told the Mail that Hurt is "one of his acting heroes." He continued, "Billy Rice is a legendary performer: spry and sexy. He's fit, fiery and ready for anything. So is John Hurt."

Also in the cast are Greta Scacchi as 'Phoebe,' DOWNTON ABBEY's Sophie McShera as 'Jean,' and Jonah Hauer-King as 'Frank.'

Known to many as 'Mr. Ollivander' in the HARRY POTTER film series, Hurt's career has spanned six decades. Among the Oscar nominee's many film credits are A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, THE ELEPHANT MAN, NINETEEN EIGHTY FOUR, SCANDAL, MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, ALIEN, V FOR VENDETTA, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY and more.