Scottish actor Michelle Gomez has stepped down from the London stage adaptation of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest for personal reasons. The 59-year-old, known for roles in Green Wing, Doctor Who and Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, was set to play Nurse Ratched in the production at The Old Vic theatre.
The play, directed by Clint Dyer, runs from 1 April to 23 May. It features a cast of Black actors playing the patients, with Dyer aiming to highlight themes of colonialism. He said the production will leave audiences 'shocked', 'heartbroken' and 'bullied into submission'.
On 23 March, a week before previews, The Old Vic announced that Olivia Williams, 57, would take over the role. Williams, known for The Sixth Sense and Rushmore, trained at the Royal Shakespeare Company. The theatre expressed regret over Gomez's departure and wished her well.
Gomez, married to actor Jack Davenport, had been leading the cast alongside Giles Terera and Aaron Pierre. The production continues as planned, with all performances scheduled to go ahead.
