RALPH FIENNES RETURNS IN THIS REINVENTION OF SHAW'S CLASSIC

Ralph Fiennes returns to the National as the revolutionary John Tanner (Don Juan, anybody?) in this witty reinvention of George Bernard Shaw's classic part-romantic comedy, part fairytale.

WHAT IS Man and Superman ABOUT?

Fiennes stars as celebrated radical thinker and rich bachelor Jack Tanner, who at first glance seems an unlikely choice as a guardian to the alluring heiress, Ann. Yet, he underestimates her resolve as she takes this all in her assured stride spurns the love of another man in order to marry Jack and tame his wild ways.

When Tanner catches onto her plans thanks to his wily chauffeur, he ups and flees to Spain, where he is captured by bandits and ends up meeting The Devil. Here ensues an otherworldly dream-debate, complete with heaven versus hell undertones. What he hasn't banked on is Ann following him and appearing to Tanner as he wakes up, as fierce in her certainty as he is in his.

This marks the second time that Fiennes stars as Jack Tanner; in 1996 he led Sir Peter Hall's audio production that also starred Judi Dench, Juliet Stevenson and Jack Davenport as part of BBC Radio 3's 30th anniversary celebrations.