Irvine Iqbal will play Chef Chevalier in the National Theatre’s musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches, opening this coming November. The production is directed by Lyndsey Turner, with book and lyrics by Olivier Award-winner Lucy Kirkwood and music and lyrics from Tony Award-nominee Dave Malloy.
This is the third time the Westminster graduate has performed at the National Theatre in the last two years, taking to the stage previously in East is East and The Father and the Assassin. He has also performed in Bombay Dreams, Bend it Like Beckham, the Boy in the Dress and was the original Sultan in the West End’s Aladdin.
On his career, Irvine said: “My career has led me to many places and theatres. Children's books have always appealed to me both in the freedom they bring to a rehearsal room and the absolute joy and nostalgia they offer kids and adults alike. Perhaps it resonates as I'm now a father and have read many of these texts to my child. To see them translated to stage has been wonderful. Particular highlights have been working with David Walliams on his books playing the part of Raj.”
Irvine graduated with an MBA from the University of Westminster around 15 years ago when he decided to take a break from acting and gain a greater understanding of the producing side of the theatre world.
He said: “I had always wanted to do an MBA and it was the right time. I had been working about 10 years in the business and I came to a point in my career where I had become slightly disillusioned and frustrated by it all, so I thought I would go and clear my head and learn something and do something that was stimulating and it really helped realign me a little bit.
“I loved the course – it was so well run and I loved the fact that the people studying with me were so international and diverse. There was someone from a marketing background and then there was a baker. All these diverse people were there to enhance their business brains and I think that was the beauty of it.”
The Witches will open on 7 November and will run until 27 January 2024. Irvine will be joined by a 53-person cast, with Julie Armstrong, Chrissie Bhima, Zoe Birkett and Maddison Bulleyment among the witches and Sally Ann Triplett as Gran.
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