Rhys Ifans to appear in one-man show at National Theatre

Welsh actor Rhys Ifans is to appear in a one-man show at the National Theatre (Getty Images)

Notting Hill star Rhys Ifans will play a down-and-out who accidentally ends up at the centre of a political protest in a one-man show at the National Theatre.

The Welsh actor plays Danny, a rough sleeper who lives on the steps on St Paul's Cathedral in central London and wakes up one day to find protesters from the Occupy movement setting up camp.

It is two years since hundreds of people set up camp outside the building after they were prevented from entering nearby Paternoster Square, where the London Stock Exchange is located, and remained there for four months.

Ifans, who played Hugh Grant's flatmate in Notting Hill, has previously appeared in Under Milk Wood at the theatre and played drug dealer Howard Marks in the film of hit book Mr Nice.

The monologue, which is called Protest Song and is written by Tim Price, will be staged at the theatre from 16 December to 11 January.

PA