Dynamic duo are hooked on classics

Theatrical legends Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod tell Pádraic Killeen about signing up Robert Pattinson to star in their screen debut

AS the artistic directors of Cheek by Jowl, Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod are two of the most acclaimed figures in contemporary theatre. Over three decades, the English theatre company has staked its reputation on dynamic and daring interpretations of classical works ranging from Shakespeare to Chekhov, as well as on producing work in French and Russian.

Given the spirit of adventure that drives them, then, it’s not as surprising as it might seem that these two men, one in his 60s and the other on the cusp, have just recently directed their debut feature film. The film, Bel Ami, is a sweeping adaptation of Guy de Maupassant’s 1885 novel of the same name, and it has an exquisite cast in the shape of Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Christina Ricci, and, in the lead role, Robert Pattinson, star of the Twilight films and all-round pop culture heartthrob.