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Sacha Baron Cohen to Star in Quentin Tarantino's West End Play
Confirmed
In Short: Sacha Baron Cohen will headline Quentin Tarantino's play 'The Popinjay Cavalier' premiering in London's West End in March 2027.
Sacha Baron Cohen will star in Quentin Tarantino's first stage play, 'The Popinjay Cavalier,' which is set to premiere at London's Phoenix Theatre on March 18, 2027. Tickets for the production go on sale on Monday, with priority access starting at 9 a.m. local time.
The play, described as a 'rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by the grand swashbuckling epics of stage and screen,' is set in 1830s Europe. Baron Cohen will portray the title character, a popinjay cavalier, defined as a vain, foppish, or conceited person.
Baron Cohen expressed his enthusiasm for the role, saying, 'I’m preparing for it to be a success. If it’s a flop, I’ll be done very quickly.' Tarantino first revealed his plans to stage a play in 2025, stating on the Church of Tarantino podcast that it was 'all written.'
The production is being produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sonia Friedman Productions. Tarantino will both write and direct the play, marking his first venture into stage production.
Tickets for the show start at £25, with more than 16,000 tickets priced at under £50 across the run. Previews for the play will begin on February 23, 2027.
Tarantino has been working on the play for some time, and he previously stated that it would take up a year and a half to two years of his life if it were successful. He also mentioned that he would have to do a tour version of the play if it were a success.
The play's official website provides additional details, including ticket information and dates for the previews and opening night.
The production promises to be a unique blend of Tarantino's cinematic style and Baron Cohen's comedic talent, offering a fresh take on the swashbuckling genre.
The collaboration between the two renowned artists is expected to create a memorable theatrical experience for audiences in London's West End.
What this adds
Deadline provided updated official statements and dates, confirming Baron Cohen's role and the play's premiere details.
What's confirmed
- He said he was “keen with anticipation to give the West End a great night out”.
- Sacha Baron Cohen will headline Quentin Tarantino’s The Popinjay Cavalier when it premieres on the West End in London in March 2027.
- Premiering at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End on March 18 2027, tickets are on sale on Monday.
- Set in 1830s Europe, The Popinjay Cavalier has been billed as a “rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by the grand swashbuckling epics of stage and screen”.
- Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sonia Friedman Productions are producing the play.
- Tarantino first revealed his plans to stage a play in 2025, saying on the Church of Tarantino podcast it was “all written”.
- “It is absolutely the next thing I’m going to do. We’ll start the ball rolling on it in January. It’s probably going to take up a year and a half to two years of my life, if it’s a success, and I’ve got to do the tour version of it and all that,” he said.
- A popinjay is defined as “a vain, foppish or conceited person”, while a cavalier is a cavalryman or courteous gentleman.
- The production marks the Hollywood director’s first play written for the stage – which he will also direct.
- Tickets start at £25, with more than 16,000 tickets priced at under £50 across the run.
What's still developing
- According to sources close to the project, Cohen will portray the title character when The Popinjay Cavalier lands at an as-yet-undisclosed West End venue in spring 2027.