Ralph Fiennes Stars in MAN AND SUPERMAN, Beginning Tonight at the National Theatre

Ralph Fiennes returns to the National Theatre to star as 'John Tanner' in George Bernard Shaw's MAN AND SUPERMAN, beginning tonight, February 25, 2015. The play is directed by Simon Godwin, who has worked at both the National Theatre and the Royal Court. It runs through May 17, 2015.

A romantic comedy, an epic fairytale, a fiery philosophical debate, Man and Superman asks fundamental questions about how we live. Fiennes takes the role of 'Jack Tanner' in this exhilarating reinvention of Shaw's witty, provocative classic.

Jack Tanner, celebrated radical thinker and rich bachelor, seems an unlikely choice as guardian to the alluring heiress, Ann. But she takes it in her assured stride and, despite the love of a poet, she decides to marry and tame this dazzling revolutionary.

Tanner, appalled by the whiff of domesticity, is tipped off by his chauffeur and flees to Spain, where he is captured by bandits and meets The Devil. An extraordinary dream-debate, heaven versus hell, ensues. Following in hot pursuit, Ann is there when Tanner awakes, as fierce in her certainty as he is in his.

MAN AND SUPERMAN originally opened at the Royal Court in 1905.

Fiennes has had a storied stage career in the UK, including appearances in Regent's Park's Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Romeo and Juliet; National Theatre's Six Characters in Search of an Author, Fathers and Sons, Ting Tang Mine, The Talking Cure and Oedipus the King; the RSC's The Man Who Came to Dinner, Playing with Trains, Troilus and Cressida, King Lear, Love's Labour's Lost and many more.

Fiennes has also appeared on Broadway in 2006's Faith Healer and Hamlet, for which he won the 1995 Tony Award.

The actor recently appeared on the big screen in Wes Anderson's Oscar-winning film The Grand Budapest Hotel. His upcoming projects include Hail, Caesar!, Spectre and Flying Horse. Among his past credits include The Invisible Woman, Skyfall, Great Expectations, Wrath of the Titans, the Harry Potter series (as Voldemort), Coriolanus, The Reader, In Bruges and more.

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