Look Back in Anger (Jimmy Porter) rehearsed reading- Duke of York’s theatre (2012)

On 6th July Benedict Cumberbatch returned to the West End stage as part of the Royal Court’s Playwright’s Playwrights season at the Duke of York Theatre.

Benedict appeared as Jimmy Porter (opposite Rebecca Hall as Alison Porter) in a rehearsed reading of John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger directed by Polly Stenham.

Frankenstein

Frankenstein – (Victor Frankenstein/The Monster) – National Theatre (2011) Olivier Award for best actor (2012), Evening Standard Theatre Award for best actor (2011), Critic’s Circle Award for best actor (2011)

Benedict Cumberbatch starred in the dual role of Victor Frankenstein/The Creature in an adaptation of Frankenstein at the National Theatre.

Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) Benedict alternated the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature with Jonny Lee Miller (Elementary), playing the roles on alternate nights.

At the 2012 Olivier Awards Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller were jointly awarded the Olivier Award for best actor for their roles in the play. The pair also won the Evening Standard Theatre Award for best actor in November 2011 – the first time the award had been shared by 2 actors.

Benedict Cumberbatch was separately awarded the best actor award for Frankenstein at the Critic’s Circle Theatre Awards in January 2012

The play ran at the National Theatre from 5 February 2011 to 2 May 2011 and was adapted for the stage by Nick Dear.

The show received near universal critical acclaim for the spectacular acting from Cumberbatch and Miller and Boyle’s stunning visuals (Bruno Poet won an Olivier Award for best lighting design). It was the hottest ticket in town with seats being sold for many times their face value and queues for day tickets starting at 9:00 p.m. the previous day. Both versions of the play were also screened worldwide in cinemas as part of NT Live drawing in record audiences. The screenings proved so popular that they were repeated in in Summer 2012.

Also appearing in the cast was Naomie Harris (Skyfall) who acted alongside Benedict in Small Island, Ella Smith and Karl Johnson.
The soundtrack for the play was produced by Underworld.

The Children’s Monologues gala (Shephard) - The Old Vic (2010)

Benedict appeared as part of the cast of The Children’s Monologues – a gala evening which took place at The Old Vic theatre on 14 November 2010.
Organised by Dramatic Need the event highlighted the plight of impoverished children in South Africa and Rwanda. The gala consisted of a series of monologues performed by actors which were based on the personal testimonies of the children helped by Dramatic Need who had been asked to remember the happiest or saddest time in their lives.

The gala was directed by Danny Boyle.

Benedict appeared as a character called Shepherd – a missionary working in South Africa.

Also appearing in the highly impressive cast were Sir Ben Kingsley, Gemma Atherton, Rose Byrne, Tom Hiddleston and Eddie Redmayne.

After the Dance (David Scott-Fowler) – National Theatre (2010)

Benedict Cumberbatch appeared as David Scott-Fowler in the revival of Terrence Rattigan’s After the Dance at the National Theatre from June to August 2010.

Directed by acclaimed director Thea Sharrock, After the Dance played to sold out audiences and was met with rave reviews.

Benedict was nominated for a What’s On Stage Award for best actor for his performance.

In its review of the year The Times declared After the Dance as the best theatrical production of 2010. The show was nominated for 6 Olivier awards and won 4 (best actress for Nancy Carroll, best supporting actor for Adrian Scarborough, best play revival and best costume design.)

The City (Chris) – Royal Court Theatre (2008)

Benedict appeared in The City at The Royal Court theatre from April to June 2008.

Written by Martin Crimp and directed by Katie Mitchell, The City was a surreal and darkly comic piece of theatre which divided critics.

Benedict appeared as Chris opposite Hattie Morahan (A Doll’s House)

The Arsonists (Eisenring) – Royal Court Theatre (2007)
Benedict Cumberbatch appeared in The Arsonists at The Royal Court Theatre from September to December 2007. The play was in rep with Rhinoceros.

The Arsonists was directed by Ramin Gray, from a new translation by Alistair Beaton.

Benedict Cumberbatch appeared as Eisenring.

Rhinoceros (Berenger) – Royal Court Theatre (2007)

Benedict Cumberbatch appeared in Rhinoceros at The Royal Court Theatre from September to December 2007. The play played in rep with The Arsonists.

Directed by Dominic Cooke, Benedict played the lead role of Berenger.

Rhinoceros can be viewed at the National Video Archive of Performance (by appointment only).

Period of Adjustment (George Haverstick) – Almeida Theatre (2006)

Benedict appeared in Period of Adjustment at the Almeida Theatre from March to April 2006.

Written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Howard Davies Benedict played George, a wounded soldier taking his new bride to meet fellow soldier Ralph on Christmas Eve.

Benedict starred alongside Lisa Dillon (The Taming of the Shrew, A Flea in Her Ear, Design for Living) and Jared Harris (Moriarty in Guy Ritchie’s take on Sherlock Holmes).

Hedda Gabler (George Tesman) – Almeida Theatre and West End (2005)
 - Nominated for an Olivier Award for best supporting actor

Benedict Cumberbatch appeared in Hedda Gabler at the Almeida Theatre from March to April 2005. The play subsequently transferred to the West End.

Directed by Richard Eyre, Benedict played George Tessman opposite Eve Best as Hedda who subsequently won an Olivier Award for her performance. Benedict was nominated for an Olivier award for best actor in a supporting role for his performance.

You can watch Hedda Gabler at the National Video Archive of Performance (by appointment only)

The Lady by the Sea (Lyngstrand) – Almeida Theatre (2004)
Benedict appeared as Lyngstrand in The Lady from the Sea at the Almeida Theatre in 2003 directed by Trevor Nunn and starring Natasha Richardson.

Romeo and Juliet (Benvolio)- Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (2002)
Benedict Cumberbatch appeared in The New Shakespeare Company’s 2002 season at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park.

He appeared in 3 different productions: Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It and Oh What a Lovely War.

Benedict appeared as Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet and Orlando in As You Like It.

As You Like it (Orlando) – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (2002)

Oh What a Lovely War – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (2002)

Love’s Labours Lost (King of Navarre) – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (2001)

A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream (Demetrius) – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (2001)

Benedict was part of the New Shakespeare Company’s 2001 season at the Open Air Theatre at Regent’s Park.
Benedict appeared in both A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Love’s Labours Lost.

source: https://www.benedictcumberbatch.co.uk