Previews of the award-winning writer’s new version of Sophocles ‘Oedipus’ opened on at the NT’s Olivier theatre on Wednesday night.

Sophocles’ dark tragedy has been sharpened with an intense raw edge McGuinness. The plot surrounds Oedipus’ efforts to lift a terrible curse from the people of Thebes and their city. He consults an oracle and learns that he must root out the late king’s murderer. But his relentless interrogation of one man after another leads inexorably, and in the space of a single day, to his own savage conclusion.

Playing the title role, Fiennes (The English Patient and The Constant Gardner) said recently: “I'm still learning the play, but I'm feeling unpractised and quite frightened.”

Meanwhile, the play has been the subject of some controversy due to its sponsorship by Shell. Protestors, under the banner of Art Not Oil have spoken out against the multinational companies involvement.

A letter by the protestors stated that the opposition was in no way directed at McGuinness. “I’d like to make it clear that our campaign isn’t about standing in judgement over artists who find themselves caught in the crossfire of climate chaos-era oil industry public relations.”

Oedipus is at the National Theatre, SE1, sponsored by Shell (020-7452 3000; www.nationaltheatre.org.uk), Oct 15 to Jan 4.