The ex-National Theatre boss is already set to direct his own new version of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler at the Almeida, and casting has now been announced.
Eve Best, who won the Critics Circle Best Actress Award for her performance in Mourning Becomes Electra at the National, will play Hedda. Benedict Cumberbatch is George Tesman. Lisa Dillon — who recently starred in another London Ibsen, The Master Builder, opposite Patrick Stewart — will play Thea Elvsted. Iain Glen is to be Judge Brack. Jamie Sives as Eilert Loevborg and Gillian Raine as Juliana Tesman complete the line-up.
The production will begin previews March 10, 2005, with an opening night March 16. It will run until April 30. Rob Howell designs, with lighting by Peter Mumford.
A subsequent Almeida production, Lorca’s Blood Wedding, has announced its director. Rufus Norris, very much a director du jour (and winner of the Evening Standard Best Director Award) after his triumph with the Almeida’s Festen, will take the reins. That will preview May 6, 2005, open May 12 and run until June 18. Casting is expected soon.
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