The 1998-99 season at London's famed Almeida Theatre will include a new production of Phaedra starring Diana Rigg and directed by Jonathan Kent -- who previously collaborated on highly successful productions of Medea and Mother Courage.

Racine's 1677 play will be adapted by Ted Hughes, Britain's poet laureate who has been making headlines in recent weeks with the publication of Birthday Letters, a book of poetry chronicling his stormy marriage to Sylvia Plath, who committed suicide in 1963.

No dates have been given for Phaedra.

Previously confirmed for next season at the Almeida is Edward Albee's The Play About The Baby, which will have its premiere in September, directed by Howard Davies.

Currently up on the boards at the theatre is Pirandello's Naked, starring Juliette Binoche and directed by Kent. Next up is The Iceman Cometh, set to open April 14 and starring Kevin Spacey, Clarke Peters and Rupert Graves. (Both Naked and Iceman are completely sold out.) The final show of the season is The Doctor's Dilemma, directed by Michael Grandage and featuring Alec McCowen, scheduled for May 28-June 27.

In addition, Almeida is producing a new David Hare play about Oscar Wilde and Alfred Douglas, The Judas Kiss, which opens on the West End in March and is due on Broadway in late-April. The drama stars Liam Neeson and Tom Hollander and is directed by Richard Eyre.

For more information about the Almeida, check out the theatre's website, http://www.almeida.co.uk. For box office information, call (011)44-171 359-4404.

--By Rebecca Paller