In February 2008, American playwright John Pielmeier expressed an interest in adapting William Peter Blatty's novel of the same name into a play and soon met with Blatty. He then began working on a script for the play, in which the first draft was completed in ten days.[1]
In 2016 the play made its UK premiere at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, produced in association with Bill Kenwright (by arrangement with Ben Sprecher and Stuart Snyder) and ran from 21 October to 5 November.[3] The production was directed by Sean Mathias, designed by Anna Fleischle, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, music and sound design by Adam Cork, video and projection design by Duncan McLean with illusions by Ben Hart. The cast featured Jenny Seagrove as Chris, Peter Bowles as Father Merrin, Adam Garcia as Father Damien and Clare Louise Connolly as Regan.[4]Sir Ian McKellen provided the pre-recorded voice of the demon.
West End (2017–18)
The Birmingham production transferred to the Phoenix Theatre in London'sWest End from 20 October 2017 for a strictly limited run until 10 March 2018. Seagrove, Bowles, Garcia, and Connolly returned to production with the majority of the Birmingham cast.[5][6]
The Los Angeles production received mixed reviews from the critics, but the audiences responded enthusiastically. Due to this, Pielmeier has stated that he has made a major re-write on the script in preparation for a second production.[1]
Birmingham and West End production received mixed to positive reviews from the critics and audiences.
