Actor Ruth Negga has announced her withdrawl from Radio Bette, a new show which is due to open at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre next month as part of this year’s Dublin Theatre Festival.
The Goat Exchange, the New York company behind the production, said: “The Goat Exchange regrets to announce that Ruth Negga will be stepping back from Radio Bette.
“We are deeply grateful to Ruth for the time, generosity, and extraordinary work she has brought to the project.”
In a statement, The Dublin Theatre Festival said that Radio Bette will go ahead as planned, with a replacement cast member to be announced ‘in the next seven to 10 days’.
Ticket holders were informed of Ms Negga’s withdrawal on Friday.
Inspired by a rehearsal recording of a 1951 radio broadcast featuring movie legend Bette Davis, Radio Bette has been created in collaboration with Oscar-nominated Irish actor Negga.
Described as an homage to classic Hollywood and contemporary experimental theatre, the piece unfolds live, with performers listening to the original audio recording and recreating it in real time, channeling the voices and personas of screen icons including Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Anne Baxter and Thelma Ritter,
Radio Bette is still scheduled to run at the Gaiety Theatre from 23rd to 27th September.