Gary Oldman returned to the theater, where his debut was a "very generous decision" for the star, venue staff said.

The Academy Award-winning actor starred Samuel Beckett's play The Last Record of Krapp at York Theatre Royal until May 17, his first phase of role since the late 1980s.

He had previously said that the single-player drama he also directed would be even more poignant because it was "a man back to the past 30 years ago."

Vicky Biles from the theater said it was “very exciting” to welcome new audiences from around the world with regulars during the sold-out competition.

"We do want people to see it and think about other things that happen here and come back again," said Biles, the theater's director of communications and development.

Oldman started on the venue in 1979 in private dramas such as the parade, and she longed to conquer—and that Christmas that Christmas played the cat in Pantomime Dick Whittington.

Ms. Beers said his long-awaited plan for the return began about 18 months ago when Oldman visited the theater and met with CEO Paul Crewes.

"Gary spent about an hour on the main stage with her family, talking about his memories of working here in 1979," she said.

“This begins a conversation with Paul about Gary’s desire to return to the theater.”

Ms Biles said the production of the play was not ready to tour the rest of the UK, and it was "excited" for the theater.

"He hasn't done drama for more than 30 years, and choosing to return to his career is very special," she said.

“It was a very generous decision for him to continue to support this theater and provide us with this wonderful work.”

The work has received several positive comments, including the Guardian describing it as a “shocking theater.”

However, Time says Oldman “can dig deeper” and performance creates “mixed results.”

"York is a center of the theater industry's focus," said York's critic Charles Hutchinson.

“For example, the New York Times should rarely send reviewers to York to see anything, and they’re there for Gary Oldman.”

He added that Sting and Trudie Styler have visited the work, as well as slow horse writer Mick Heron.

Mr Hutchinson said the work was opened by 67-year-old Oldman eating fruit silently.

"It's fun when you watch something, except for someone eating a banana and how it makes the audience feel," the critic said.

“Will they find it interesting?

He added: "He has absolutely charm on the screen, but what's interesting here is that he plays a mean character who he looked back 30 years ago."

After York's debut, Oldman's glittering career included playing Sirius Black in the Harry Potter film and won an Oscar in 2018 to win his portrayal of Winston Churchhill.

Mr Hutchinson, 64, added: "People said to me, why don't you work in London? The answer is because there are still many things in the north.

“I saw something like this in York than going to London.”