Actor Ruth Negga has withdrawn from Radio Bette, a production scheduled to open at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre next month as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival, according to festival organizers and production statements released on Friday.
Production Details and Festival Impact
According to RTÉ, the New York-based production company The Goat Exchange announced Negga’s departure on Friday, stating that the Oscar-nominated Irish actor is stepping back from the project. Radio Bette is inspired by a rehearsal recording of a 1951 radio broadcast featuring Hollywood legend Bette Davis. Created in collaboration with Negga, the experimental piece involves performers listening to original audio recordings and recreating them in real time while channeling screen icons such as Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Anne Baxter, and Thelma Ritter, as reported by RTÉ.
Despite the high-profile withdrawal, RTÉ confirms that Radio Bette will proceed as planned, running at the Gaiety Theatre from September 23 to September 27. The Dublin Theatre Festival stated that ticket holders were notified of the change on Friday and that a replacement cast member will be announced within the next seven to ten days.
Ticketing and Festival Lineup
According to The Journal, tickets for Radio Bette first went on sale on July 29 when the festival’s initial line-up was unveiled. The production stands as one of the major international highlights of this year’s festival schedule, which encompasses 26 distinct productions across Dublin, as noted by The Journal. The broader Dublin Theatre Festival runs from September 24 to October 11.
In a formal statement reported by RTÉ and The Journal, The Goat Exchange addressed the change in casting: “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.” Organizers reiterated that further casting updates will be released in the coming days ahead of the September opening.