British comedy legend Rowan Atkinson is returning to the West End with a new live show after four decades.
The actor, best known worldwide for playing Mr Bean, will headline Rowan Live at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre. The limited run will begin on February 8, 2027, and continue until March 13. Only 30 performances are planned.
The show will bring back some of Atkinson’s most famous characters and sketches.
Fans can expect material linked to Mr Bean, Blackadder and the BBC comedy series Not the Nine O’Clock News. The production will also include fresh sketches written especially for the stage.
Atkinson said he wanted to revisit the comedy that helped launch his career and reconnect with characters that audiences have enjoyed for decades.
The new material has been developed with longtime collaborators Richard Curtis, Ben Elton and composer Howard Goodall.
Curtis previously worked with Atkinson on both Mr Bean and Blackadder. He is also known for films including Love Actually, Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
The production will be directed by Raz Shaw, while Howard Goodall will provide the music.
Atkinson first gained major attention through Not the Nine O’Clock News before becoming a household name with Blackadder. He later achieved global fame in the 1990s through Mr Bean, whose physical comedy and limited dialogue appealed to audiences across different languages.
Although the new show marks his first major West End comedy return in around 40 years, Atkinson last appeared on a West End stage in 2013 in a revival of Quartermaine’s Terms.
The limited run is expected to attract strong demand from longtime fans eager to see the comedian perform live again.
