By Mark Shenton
02 Oct 2009

The previously-announced Michael Gambon has withdrawn from the cast of Alan Bennett's new play The Habit of Art that begins performances at the National's Lyttelton Theatre Nov. 5. He will be replaced by Tony Award-winning actor Richard Griffiths.

Opening is Nov. 17. According to a press statement from the National Theatre, Gambon "has sadly had to withdraw… due to minor ill health for which he needs some time to rest." Nicholas Hytner, who is directing the play, has said, "We're all extremely sorry that Michael Gambon has had to withdraw from The Habit of Art but Alan Bennett and I couldn't be more grateful to our old friend Richard Griffiths for agreeing to take on this considerable challenge at such short notice. The Habit of Art is about the business of putting a play together as much as it is about making music or poetry. Richard Griffiths will play the actor, Fitz, who plays the poet WH Auden in a play set in a rehearsal room as a group of actors work through a play about Auden and Benjamin Britten. We're looking forward to taking creative advantage of this unexpected twist in our own rehearsal process."

The schedule of preview performances and press night will remain the same as previously announced. Griffiths, who was last seen on Broadway last year as Dr. Martin Dysart in a production of Equus that transferred from the West End and also starred Daniel Radcliffe, previously won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play his role as Hector in Bennett's The History Boys that also originated at the National until the direction of Nicholas Hytner. Griffiths also won the Evening Standard, Critics' Circle and Laurence Olivier Awards for his role in the play, and subsequently also played it in Hytner's film version. His film and TV work includes the "Harry Potter" films, "Withnail and I," "Pie in the Sky," "Gormenghast" and "Bleak House".

The full cast of the play includes Danny Burns, Martin Chamberlain, Philip Childs, Frances de la Tour, John Heffernan, Alex Jennings (as Benjamin Britten), Barbara Kirby, Elliot Levey, Adrian Scarborough and Stephen Wight. It is designed by Bob Crowley, with lighting by Mark Henderson, music by Matthew Scott and sound by Paul Groothuis.

To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7452 3000, or visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk.