Olivia Williams replaces Michelle Gomez in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

Shehrazade Zafar-Arif 23 March, 2026, 13:52

The Old Vic has announced that Michelle Gomez will be withdrawing from her role as Nurse Ratched in Dale Wasserman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. She will be replaced by Olivia Williams.

Michelle Gomez and Olivia Williams. Photo by Dan Wooller.

Based on the novel by Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is set in a psychiatric facility, where the terrifying Nurse Ratched rules over the patients with an iron fist. Chief Bromden has been silent for years, driven to the ground by a system that labels, divides and forgets about the people within it. But all that changes the day Randle Patrick McMurphy swaggers into the ward and begins to overturn everything the Big Nurse stands for.

This production is directed by Clint Dyer, and stars Aaron Pierre as Randle P McMurphy, Giles Terera as Dale Harding, Samson Ajewole as Aide Warren, Kazeem Tosin Amore as Aide Turkle, Arthur Boan as Chief Bromden, Ene Frost as Ruckley, Jaz Hutchins as Aide Williams, Daisy Lewis as Candy Starr, Amy Newton as Nurse Flinn/Sandra, Jason Pennycooke as Martini, Javone Prince as Cheswick, Mo Sesay as Scanlon, Matthew Steer as Dr Spivey and Kedar Williams-Stirling as Billy Bibbit.

Michelle Gomez was due to play the villainous Nurse Ratched, but has had to step down due to personal reasons. The role will now be played by Olivia Williams.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest will play the Old Vic from 1 April to 23 May 2026.

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