Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Siff to Star in West Complete Revival of ‘Shadowlands’

A new production of William Nicholson’s play, Shadowlands, based on the relationship between C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman, is set to premiere at the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End in 2026. Hugh Bonneville, known for his role in Downton Abbey, will portray C.S. Lewis, whereas Maggie Siff, recognized for her function in Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy, and Billions, will play Joy Davidman. The production is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh.

The Story Behind the Play

Shadowlands explores the unlikely love story between C.S. Lewis, a renowned Oxford academic and author of The Chronicles of Narnia, and Joy Davidman, an American poet, divorcée, and former Communist Party member. The play, and the film adaptation starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger [1], depicts how their intellectual connection blossomed into a deep and transformative romance.

From Page to Stage and Screen

The play is rooted in Lewis’s own memoir, A Grief Observed, which details his experience of loss and his grappling with faith following Davidman’s death from cancer. Nicholson initially wrote the story as a television play in 1985 titled I Call It Joy, commissioned by Thames Television with contributions from Brian Sibley and Norman Stone [1]. He later adapted it into a stage play in 1989 and subsequently into the screenplay for the 1993 film directed by Richard Attenborough [1].

A Marriage of Convenience and Love

The relationship between Lewis and Davidman began with a practical arrangement: Lewis agreed to marry Davidman to help her obtain a British visa [2]. However, this initial agreement evolved into a profound and unexpected love, challenging Lewis’s previously held beliefs about relationships and faith [2]. Davidman is described as a complex figure – a Jewish Communist Christian American poet [2].

Critical Acclaim

The 1993 film adaptation of Shadowlands received significant recognition, winning the 1993 BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film [1]. The new stage production aims to bring this poignant story to a new audience, exploring themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning.