Pearl Mackie picks first post-Doctor Who role

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The former TARDIS time-traveller will join Toby Jones, Stephen Mangan and Zoë Wanamaker in the cast of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party. Here’s when and where you can see her. 

Moving on from the great fan reaction to the role as Bill Potts in Doctor Who, where she will make her final appearance on the upcoming Christmas Special, Pearl Mackie will take her first post-Who part in the Harold Pinter Theatre’s 60th anniversary production of The Birthday Party next January.

As reported by our friends at Off To The Theatre, it will be a return to the stage for the actress who moved on to Who after a run in The National Theatre’s Tony-winning take on The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-time during 2015-16.

Mackie commented that she’s “delighted to be back in the West End working with such a prolific director like Ian Rickson – and an incredible cast – on this rich, dark and enthralling play. I love how Pinter creates character and I feel very lucky to work on one of his best-known plays.”

Pinter turned his own script into a screenplay for a 1968 film adaptation, directed by French Connection/Exorcist helmer, William Friedkin. He also did a acting turn himself, playing Goldberg, alongside Joan Plowright in a 1987 BBC TV adaptation. There, the role of Lulu – which Mackie will take on – was filled by none-other than Julie Walters.

The Birthday Party will play at the Harold Pinter Theatre from 9 January to 14 April 2018.