Mark Gatiss makes his RSC debut as a small-time crook with big boss ambitions

This city’s sick. You need me. Arturo Ui.

While the Great Depression inflicts hardship across the nation, Chicago’s underworld festers with sex, scandal, violence and corruption. It’s the perfect storm for a schemer like Ui, his reputation as hot as hell.

Feeding on fear, Ui and his ruthless cronies make back-alley deals to protect the workers. So far, so bad. But his helpless targets watch on as Ui's influence gains dangerous momentum and his venom threatens to seep through the markets, politics and the law to seize the city -  and beyond. This is a man on a mission for power. Will anyone stop him?

The simmering streets of Chicago come to the Swan Theatre for Seán Linnen’s RSC directorial debut. Double Olivier Award-winner Mark Gatiss debuts as the Notorious Arturo Ui, in Stephen Sharkey’s version of Brecht’s riotous 1941 ‘gangster spectacle’, a blistering satire on Hitler’s ascent to power.

The production sees BAFTA award-winning actor and comedian Mawaan Rizwan make his RSC debut in the role of violent gang member Giri, alongside Kadiff Kirwan as Arturo Ui’s faithful henchman Roma. They will be joined by double Olivier award-winner Janie Dee as Betty Dullfeet, Christopher Godwin as Dogsborough and LJ Parkinson in the role of master manipulator Givola.

The full cast includes Joe Alessi (Butcher/Dullfeet/Prosecution), Valerie Antwi (Ensemble/Swing), Mark Hammersley(Ensemble/Swing), Rebekah Hinds (Flake/Dockdaisy), Cameron Johnson (Mulberry/Jimmy Greenwool/The Judge), Samuel Nunes de Souza (Ensemble), Mahesh Parmar (Dogsborough's Son/Fish/Inna), Santino Smith (Sheet/Hook) and Amanda Wilkin (Clark/Ragg/The Woman).