Jamie Lloyd will direct the play, which is described in press materials as a "grisly tragedy that tells the story of a young widow who marries against the wishes of her family, triggering a violent revenge from her controlling brothers and leaving a path of destruction in the process."

Eve Best was seen over the summer as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe. She has previously appeared at the Old Vic in A Moon For the Misbegotten opposite Kevin Spacey in 2007, which she subsequently reprised on Broadway and was Tony-nominated for Best Actress in a Play. She was also Tony-nominated in the same category for her 2008 performance in Pinter's The Homecoming. She won the 2006 Olivier Award for Best Actress for playing the title role of Hedda Gabler. On TV, she has starred as Dr. O'Hara in "Nurse Betty," and on film she played the Duchess of Windsor in "The King's Speech."

Lloyd's West End directing credits include Three Days of Rain with James McAvoy, Little Dog Laughed with Tamsin Greig and Gemma Aterton as well as Piaf (which transferred to the West End after premiering at the Donmar Warehouse, where he has been associate director during Michael Grandage's tenure as artistic director). His directorial credits at the Donmar have also included Passion and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 871 7628, or visit www.oldvictheatre.com.