Sacha Baron Cohen has been confirmed as the lead star of “The Popinjay Cavalier,” the first stage play written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, per shortlist.com.
The production will begin preview performances at London’s Phoenix Theatre on February 23, 2027, with tickets going on sale today, Monday, October 12.
The announcement confirms weeks of speculation that the Borat and Ali G creator would headline the production.
The play marks both Baron Cohen’s West End debut and Tarantino’s first theatrical project.
Set in the 1830s, “The Popinjay Cavalier” is described by its producers as a comedy centred on deception, disguise and swashbuckling adventure. Baron Cohen will play Rupert Sebastian Thomas Jr., a celebrated actor who travels to Paris for a role but finds himself in trouble after insulting the French.
In a statement, Baron Cohen said he accepted the project immediately after being approached by Tarantino, describing the filmmaker as “the best director in the world” and expressing enthusiasm about making their West End debuts together.
Tarantino is serving as both writer and director on the production, adding a stage credit to a career primarily associated with films including Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
The production will open at the Phoenix Theatre, a venue with capacity for just over 1,000 audience members. Since 2023, the theatre has hosted Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which is scheduled to end its run on December 27.
The announcement comes as London’s West End continues to attract major film and television talent, with a growing number of high-profile actors taking leading roles in stage productions.