Atwell will play Catherine, niece to dockworker Eddie Carbone (Stott) who has made a good life for himself and his wife Beatrice (Mastrantonio) in 1950s Brooklyn. As a former immigrant himself, Eddie is happy to house and protect his wife's Italian cousins who arrive illegally in pursuit of the "American Dream." What Eddie doesn't know is that this act of kindness will have a shattering effect on his whole life, and the lives of those he loves, when his feelings for Catherine develop from paternal protectiveness to sexual desire. His struggle to contain his emotions leads him on a path of self destruction transforming him from a respected, honourable man to a virtual stranger shamed and broken by his own actions. The play explores jealousy, betrayal, suspicion and ultimately loss of control.
Atwell was recently seen in the new film version of "Brideshead Revisited" as well as "The Duchess." Her stage credits include playing Bianca in the RSC's 2005 production of Women Beware Women at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Nicholas Hytner's productions of Man of Mode and Major Barbara at the National Theatre in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
Originally produced in a one-act version in 1955 and subsequently expanded into a two-act play for a 1966 production, A View From the Bridge has had two Broadway revivals, at the Ambassador Theatre in 1983 (where it starred Tony Lo Bianco as Eddie) and by Roundabout Theatre Company at Criterion Stage Right in 1997, subsequently transferring to the Neil Simon. It was last seen in the West End in 1995 in a production at the Strand Theatre (now the Novello), in a production that featured Bernard Hill. Prior to that, it was revived at the National with Michael Gambon in 1987.
This new production is directed by Lindsay Posner, currently directing a new West End-bound production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical Carousel starring Lesley Garrett (at the Savoy Theatre from Nov. 22, prior to an official opening Dec. 2). Other recent West End credits include Fiddler On the Roof (which starred Henry Goodman at the Savoy), David Mamet's A Life in the Theatre (which starred Patrick Stewart at the Albery, now Novello), Oleanna (which starred Julia Stiles and Aaron Eckhart at the Garrick), Sam Shepard's Fool for Love (which starred Juliette Lewis at the Apollo), and Tom and Viv (at the Almeida).
The production is designed by Christopher Oram and lit by Peter Mumford. It is produced by Kim Poster for Stanhope Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions. To book tickets contact the box office at 0870 060 6623 or visit www.aviewfromthebridge.co.uk.
