Ewan McGregor Returns to West End in Modern Ibsen-Inspired Play “My Master Builder”

Ewan McGregor has returned to the London stage for the first time in 17 years, taking on a powerful role in My Master Builder, a modern reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s 1892 classic The Master Builder. The new play, set in the present-day Hamptons in New York, brings a sharp focus to contemporary relationship dynamics and shifting power structures within intimate partnerships.

McGregor plays Henry Solness, an esteemed architect whose personal and professional life is thrown into turmoil when his wife Elena, portrayed by Kate Fleetwood, hosts a dinner party that includes his former student and past love interest, played by Elizabeth Debicki. The production confronts themes of desire, memory, manipulation, and the evolving roles of women in relationships, all through the lens of modern-day power plays.

The Emmy-winning actor, widely known for his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars franchise, expressed his excitement about being back on stage, saying that theatre offers an irreplaceable sense of connection among actors and with the audience. “The audience teaches you what works and what doesn’t,” he shared, reflecting on the live nature of theatre versus the more isolated world of film.

Playwright Lila Raicek drew inspiration from her own experiences when crafting the story, recognizing parallels with Ibsen’s narrative structure. She saw in her personal life a similar emotional dynamic to the one explored in The Master Builder, particularly around the idea of individuals being used as pawns in the personal battles of others. While the play echoes Ibsen’s themes, Raicek has shifted the spotlight to give equal depth and agency to the female characters.

Unlike the original work, where male perspectives dominate, My Master Builder allows each character—especially the women—to hold their own ground, reflecting today’s more nuanced understanding of relationships and identity. Kate Fleetwood noted that the play explores how people manipulate or reinterpret memories to suit their emotional needs. The confrontation between the two women characters is central to the emotional unraveling, as they challenge one another’s version of events.

McGregor last performed in London in 2008 in Othello and appeared on Broadway in 2014’s The Real Thing. His return to the West End marks a significant moment in his stage career, with My Master Builder offering both a personal and political narrative rooted in emotional realism and bold reinterpretation.

READ MORE:

• China Prioritizes Infrastructure Construction to Expand Domestic Demand, Says Chief Economist at CITIC Securities
• Wayne McGregor’s Deepstaria: Dance Meets AI in a Mesmerizing Exploration of Darkness
• Illuminating China’s Cultural Luminaries: A Deep Dive into an Extensive Exhibition at the National Museum