Glee star Dianna Agron will make her stage debut in a new drama about fashion designer Alexander McQueen, with award-winning British actor Stephen Wight in the title role.

Agron, 28, who also appeared with Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer in film The Family, has moved to London to take up the role. She plays Dahlia, a fan of the designer who embarks on a journey with him through the streets of the capital in James Phillips’s new play, McQueen.

Romford-born Wight, who beat Matt Smith to be named outstanding newcomer at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in 2007, is also returning to London to premiere the drama, after spending the winter forging new contacts in America.

Wight, 35, was last seen on stage in West End hit The Ladykillers. He said: “I couldn’t turn down the chance to take on the role of Alexander McQueen. He was a London boy who came from a humble background, a bit like myself, trying to get ahead in an artistic world. James has done a wonderful job of capturing the complexity of him.”

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Gala 23 show all Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Gala 1/23 In celebration Kate Moss bows with dancers after performing with the Michael Clarke dance troupe at the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Fashion Gala at the V&A (Picture: Dave Benett) 2/23 Proud husband Jamie Hince struggled to take his eyes off of his wife Kate Moss (Picture: Dave Benett) 3/23 Sheer behind Kate Moss turned heads in a revealing black McQueen jumpsuit (Picture: Dave Benett) 4/23 Grand entrance Naomi Campbell worked a ruffled skirt with a backless bodice (Picture: Dave Benett) 5/23 Elegance Erin O'Connor, Poppy Delevingne and Jacquetta Wheeler (Picture: Dave Benett) 6/23 Group photo Francois Henri Pinault, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham and Salma Hayek posing for a photo (Picture: Dave Benett) 7/23 Paying tribute Kate Moss took to the stage to perform with the Michael Clarke dance troupe (Picture: Dave Benett) 8/23 In the limelight Kate Moss dances on stage (Picture: Dave Benett) 9/23 As dapper as Darcy Colin Firth suited up for a photo with his dazzling wife Livia Firth (Picture: Dave Benett) 10/23 McQueen muses Annabelle Neilson and Kate Moss are pictured at the event (Picture: Dave Benett) 11/23 Power couple Victoria Beckham wore a dress from her own label at the event which she was accompanied to by husband David Beckham (Picture: Dave Benett) 12/23 Say cheese Andre Balazs and Naomi Campbell (Picture: Dave Benett) 13/23 Keeping it colourful Stella Tennant in a caped ensemble (Picture: Dave Benett) 14/23 Androgynous glamour Erin O'Connor turned heads in a plunging white gown (Picture: Dave Benett) 15/23 Revealing all Lady Mary Charteris was working a sheer number like her friend Poppy Delevingne (Picture: Dave Benett) Dave Benett 16/23 Standing out FKA Twigs shunned dark colours for a vibrant rainbow coloured gown from McQueen's S/S08 collection (Picture: Dave Benett) 17/23 Sheer number Poppy Delevingne was working a sheer black ensemble similar to Kate Moss' (Picture: Dave Benett) Dave Benett 18/23 Lady in red Naomie Harris arrives in a plunging satin red dress (Picture: Dave Benett) Dave Benett 19/23 Muse Annabelle Neilson in a show stopping gown (Picture: Dave Benett) 20/23 Royal affair Princess Beatrice of York was out to celebrate the work of the late fashion designer (Picture: Dave Benett) 21/23 Pretty in pink Eva Herzigova was in attendance in a slinky pink gown (Picture: Dave Benett) 22/23 Showing their support Brooke Barzun (L) and American Ambassador Matthew Barzun (Picture: Dave Benett) 23/23 Model mates Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss pose with members of the Michael Clarke dance troupe backstage (Picture: Dave Benett) 1/23 In celebration Kate Moss bows with dancers after performing with the Michael Clarke dance troupe at the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Fashion Gala at the V&A (Picture: Dave Benett) 2/23 Proud husband Jamie Hince struggled to take his eyes off of his wife Kate Moss (Picture: Dave Benett) 3/23 Sheer behind Kate Moss turned heads in a revealing black McQueen jumpsuit (Picture: Dave Benett) 4/23 Grand entrance Naomi Campbell worked a ruffled skirt with a backless bodice (Picture: Dave Benett) 5/23 Elegance Erin O'Connor, Poppy Delevingne and Jacquetta Wheeler (Picture: Dave Benett) 6/23 Group photo Francois Henri Pinault, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham and Salma Hayek posing for a photo (Picture: Dave Benett) 7/23 Paying tribute Kate Moss took to the stage to perform with the Michael Clarke dance troupe (Picture: Dave Benett) 8/23 In the limelight Kate Moss dances on stage (Picture: Dave Benett) 9/23 As dapper as Darcy Colin Firth suited up for a photo with his dazzling wife Livia Firth (Picture: Dave Benett) 10/23 McQueen muses Annabelle Neilson and Kate Moss are pictured at the event (Picture: Dave Benett) 11/23 Power couple Victoria Beckham wore a dress from her own label at the event which she was accompanied to by husband David Beckham (Picture: Dave Benett) 12/23 Say cheese Andre Balazs and Naomi Campbell (Picture: Dave Benett) 13/23 Keeping it colourful Stella Tennant in a caped ensemble (Picture: Dave Benett) 14/23 Androgynous glamour Erin O'Connor turned heads in a plunging white gown (Picture: Dave Benett) 15/23 Revealing all Lady Mary Charteris was working a sheer number like her friend Poppy Delevingne (Picture: Dave Benett) Dave Benett 16/23 Standing out FKA Twigs shunned dark colours for a vibrant rainbow coloured gown from McQueen's S/S08 collection (Picture: Dave Benett) 17/23 Sheer number Poppy Delevingne was working a sheer black ensemble similar to Kate Moss' (Picture: Dave Benett) Dave Benett 18/23 Lady in red Naomie Harris arrives in a plunging satin red dress (Picture: Dave Benett) Dave Benett 19/23 Muse Annabelle Neilson in a show stopping gown (Picture: Dave Benett) 20/23 Royal affair Princess Beatrice of York was out to celebrate the work of the late fashion designer (Picture: Dave Benett) 21/23 Pretty in pink Eva Herzigova was in attendance in a slinky pink gown (Picture: Dave Benett) 22/23 Showing their support Brooke Barzun (L) and American Ambassador Matthew Barzun (Picture: Dave Benett) 23/23 Model mates Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss pose with members of the Michael Clarke dance troupe backstage (Picture: Dave Benett)

Agron said: “I loved McQueen as a designer and I love the way they have shaped this story. It’s not biographical, it’s fantasy-based.” That seemed appropriate because “his work was so theatrical and so imaginative”, she added. Apart from concerts at The O2 with the cast of Glee, in which she played cheerleader Quinn Fabray, she last appeared on stage as a child, when she performed ballet as well as singing in school shows.

She came to London in December specifically to hunt for a stage role - and then faced a rival offer from Broadway which she turned down.

Agron said she was thrilled to be making the capital her home, and joked about throwing her American passport away. “I would like to be here for ever,” she said. “I really want to be a well-balanced artist and I think there’s probably no better way to strengthen your craft than on stage. There’s something so special about it.”

Earlier this month the actress attended the gala opening of Savage Beauty, the Victoria and Albert Museum’s exhibition about McQueen. She said watching classic movie Sabrina, with Audrey Hepburn changing from a young girl to a sophisticated woman in a Givenchy dress, first showed her the “transformative” power of fashion.

McQueen will also feature former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Obermann as the designer’s muse Isabella Blow. It runs at St James Theatre in Palace Street, Victoria, from May 12 to June 6.

mcqueentheplay.com

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