About the director: Michael Longhurst
Opening on 24 January 2025 to glowing reviews, Barney Norris’ play Second Best, which marks the stage debut of Asa Butterfield, tells the story of Martin Hill, the man who missed out on the role of Harry Potter. An adaptation of David Foekinos’ bestselling novel, this comedy drama explores fate, near-misses and how the road not taken can impact us. The Second Best play is directed by Michael Longhurst. Here, we take a look at his life and career.
Beginnings
Born in 1981, Michael Longhurst grew up in Bromley, London. After studying philosophy at the University of Nottingham, he trained in theatre directing at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, graduating with a post-graduate diploma in 2004. His early career saw him develop and direct new plays across the UK, including Adam Brace’s Stovepipe. This site-specific production about the Rebuild Iraq Project took audiences on a journey through a Shepherd’s Bush shopping complex, which stood in for Amman and Baghdad.
Finding fame
Longhurst’s illustrious career saw him direct a range of productions both on and off the West End. Notably, his Royal Court production of Nick Payne’s Constellations (2012) transferred to the West End, earning four Olivier Award nominations and the 2012 Evening Standard Award for Best Play. The production then went to Broadway, where Longhurst directed Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson. Following the success of Constellations, he directed a reimagining of Bizet’s Carmen called Carmen Disruption, Caryl Churchill’s play, A Number, and Penelope Skinner’s work about the invisibility of older women, Linda. Next came a production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe.
The pandemic
Having directed an acclaimed National Theatre production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus in 2016, Longhurst went on to direct an adaptation of Tony Kushner’s musical, Caroline, or Change, which was nominated for three Olivier Awards. In March 2019, just weeks before the country went into its first lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he took over from Josie Rourke as Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse in Covent Garden. He launched his tenure with a revival of David Greig’s play Europe and spent five fruitful years at the helm, leading the theatre through a capital redevelopment and helping to reopen theatres affected by the pandemic with an Olivier Award-winning revival of Constellations.
His final season at the Donmar included the world premiere of Lucy Kirkwood’s The Human Body, as well as Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard and the European premiere of Primary Trust. Since his departure in 2024, he has brought the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Between Riverside and Crazy to the UK, and transferred Next to Normal to the West End. Second Best is his latest venture, presented at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.
Book tickets to Second Best
Second Best play tickets are available from KX Tickets now. Starring Asa Butterfield, this critically acclaimed comedy drama has proven hugely popular with fans of both Butterfield and writer Barney Norris. Running until 22 February 2025, it’s been described by London Theatre as “quietly poignant and emotive”. Get your show tickets today.
