Anthony McCarten’s drama The Two Popes visits Bath on its first UK tour

Anthony McCarten’s fascinating and humorous drama The Two Popes tours to Bath’s Theatre Royal from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 October starring Anton Lesser (Endeavour, Game of Thrones, The Crown, Wolf Hall) and Nicholas Woodeson (Skyfall, The Danish Girl, Taboo, Rome, The Tempest), directed by James Dacre.

Nine years ago, Pope Benedict XVI stunned the world by resigning, the first Pope in 700 years to do so. What drove this arch-conservative to break with sacred tradition and make way for a one-time tango club bouncer and football-loving reformer with the common touch, to become Pope Francis?

This gripping play, with original music by Grammy and BRIT Award-winning composer Anne Dudley, shines a light on one of the world’s most secretive institutions and poses the timeless question: in moments of crisis, should we follow the rules or our conscience?

Anton Lesser, who stars as Pope Benedict XVI, is well known for performances in many hit television series. Recently seen on our screens in the roles of Chief Superintendent Reginald Bright in Endeavour, Qyburn in Game of Thrones, Harold MacMillan in The Crown and Thomas More in Wolf Hall, his television credits date back to 1979 when he played Philip Wakem in The Mill On The Floss. His film credits include A United Kingdom, The Lady, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Charlotte Gray and The Missionary. His numerous stage credits include productions at London’s National Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Royal Court Theatre, Barbican, Wyndham’s Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Nicholas Woodeson, who stars as Cardinal Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis, has performed in many productions in the West End and on Broadway. His stage career started at Liverpool’s Everyman in the 1970s alongside Julie Walters and Pete Postlethwaite. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1981, where he performed for eight years and was Olivier Award nominated. His screen credits include the Bond film Skyfall, The Pelican Brief, The Avengers, The Danish Girl, Topsy-Turvy, Taboo, Rome and guest roles in series ranging from Miami Vice to Shameless and Silent Witness. Amongst his six previous productions at Bath’s Theatre Royal, Nicholas starred as Willy Loman in Death Of A Salesman in the Main House in 2017 and as Prospero in The Tempest at the Ustinov Studio in 2022. 

The cast also features Lynsey Beauchamp as Sister Brigitta and Leaphia Darko as Sister Sophia, with Malcolm James and Angela Jones in the ensemble.  

The Two Popes is written by Anthony McCarten, who penned the Academy Award-winning biopics Bohemian Rhapsody, Darkest Hour and The Theory of Everything. Originally titled The Pope, McCarten’s play starring Anton Lesser and Nicholas Woodeson was first seen on stage at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate Theatre, where it received its world premiere in 2019. This autumn, The Two Popes received its London premiere at the Rose Theatre, ahead of the 2022 UK tour visiting Cambridge, Cheltenham, Northampton, Oxford and Bath.

The production is designed by Jonathan Fensom, with lighting design by Charles Balfour, sound design by David Gregory and video and projection design by Duncan McLean. The associate director is Sarah Stacey and the associate lighting designer is Ric Mountjoy.

Writer Anthony McCarten was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy, Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards when The Two Popes was adapted into a film in 2019, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce, directed Fernando Meirelles.

The Two Popes appears at the Theatre Royal Bath from Tuesday 25 to Saturday 29 October. Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or book online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.