Vanessa Redgrave had played the role in a production that came to London's Roundhouse from Manchester's Royal Exchange in 1979, and Natasha Richardson made her final London stage appearance in a production at the Almeida in 2003.

Joely Richardson, who has starred in seven seasons of the U.S. series "Nip/Tuck" and more recently "The Tudors," was last seen onstage Off-Broadway in Side Effects earlier this year. She also has three films being released imminently: Roland Emmerich's "Anonymous" with Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and David Thewlis; David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" with Daniel Craig; and "Red Lights" with Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver.

The Rose's artistic director Stephen Unwin directs. In a press statement, he commented, "It gives me huge pleasure to stage Ibsen's elusive masterpiece at the Rose, and I’m doubly delighted that Joely Richardson has decided to mark her return to the British stage with this collaboration." It marks the sixth time he has directed an Ibsen play, and he added, "Ibsen is the great dramatist of the modern world and, in my opinion, second only to Shakespeare."

Further casting is still to be announced.

Booking for members opens Oct. 8, with general booking from Oct. 24. To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 821556, or visit www.rosetheatrekingston.org.