An all-star cast, including Nicole Kidman and Josh Hartnett, have been brought together by director Danny Boyle to give a unique charity performance.

James McAvoy, Cressida Bonas and Benedict Cumberbatch are among the A-list names who will be starring in the Children’s Monologues at London’s Royal Court Theatre this evening.

Each actor will perform first-hand accounts from children growing up in the remote South African town of Rammulotsi to raise money for Dramatic Need, an arts charity helping vulnerable children in Africa.

James McAvoy
James McAvoy on stage (Simon Annand/Dramatic Need)

They often focus on horrific events including murder and gang rape.

X-Men and Trainspotting star James described the production as “dark and sad” and added: “All the pieces are about bad things happening….it’s Dramatic Need, not Dramatic Sunday Club. There is a need for it.”

“It’s all sad stuff but there are some funny bits along the way. It’s problems such as misogny – bad treatment of women by men, girls by boys,” he said.

Anne-Marie Duff and James McAvoy
James with wife Anne-Marie Duff (Grant Pollard/Invision/AP)

“I’m playing a wee girl who’s telling the story of her brother who saved up for months and months to buy a pair of trainers that were the jiviest, coolest trainers you’ve ever seen in your life.

“It gave the whole family a lift when he actually managed to buy them – and he got mugged and killed for them.”

He said: “Getting the chance to work with Danny, who I’ve worked with before, he’s fully in control and in charge even though it’s going to be a whirlwind and all over the place, he’s the guy you want in charge of something like that.”

James McAvoy and Danny Boyle
James with director Danny Boyle (Simon Annand/Dramatic Need)

Alfie Allen, who stars in Game Of Thrones as Theon Greyjoy, described it as “an incredible opportunity”.

“I’ve never been on stage at the Royal Court before,” he said. “Just to be on the stage here, it’s such an amazing theatre and around a fantastic cause.

Alfie said he was so excited about his performance tonight that he left his keys in his flat.

Alfie Allen
Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen (Hannah McKay/PA)

“I got on the Tube this morning because I didn’t realise I was getting picked up,” he continued.

“As soon as I got the call I was so excited for it.

“The things which happen in South Africa are awful.

Alfie Allen
Alfie at a red carpet event (Nina Prommer/AP)

“My piece was adapted from the original testimony by Neil LaBute.

“It’s a dark piece about initiation into a gang and it’s a gang-rape scene.

“There are things that happen like that on these shores, ritualistic beatings of women to get initiated into gangs, so it’s not as far from home as you think it is.”

Alfie said he has spent two-and-a-half weeks learning the script “like a maniac” and added: “It’s that classic thing of being so, so excited and then getting here and being terrified.”

Josh Hartnett
Penny Dreadful star Josh Hartnett (Simon Annand/Dramatic Need)

Josh Hartnett, who plays Ethan Chandler in the TV series Penny Dreadful, has a long-standing involvement with the charity.

“I’m working nearby in Dublin and was able to come by and be part of it and so I’m happy to help out in any way,” he said.

“My story is about a 13-year-old girl who lost her mother who died of Aids.”