Nigel Harman will direct Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt in the UK premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Rabbit Hole at the Vaudeville Theatre this autumn.
Playing from 11 September (press night 24 September) to 22 November, Rabbit Hole tells the story of Becca and Howie Corbet, parents who have all that a family could wish for, until one day their life is turned upside down and they begin to drift apart.
Froggatt will take on the role of Becca in the Tony Award nominated drama, which was first staged on Broadway in 2006 and earned Sex And The City star Cynthia Nixon a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. The play was later adapted for the big screen with Nicole Kidman in the starring role.
Known to many as Anna in ITV period drama Downton Abbey, Froggatt returns to the London stage following performances in The Knowledge and Little Platoons at the Bush Theatre, and All About My Mother at the Old Vic. The actress’ other screen credits include Bad Girls and Coronation Street.
Though best known for his stage performances, which include I Can’t Sing! and A Chorus Of Disapproval, Harman is set to make his directorial debut later this year with the UK tour of Shrek The Musical. Fittingly, the West End premiere production of the fun family musical earned him an Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical.
Charting the bittersweet search for comfort in the darkest of places, Rabbit Hole is the second of Lindsay-Abaire’s plays to grace the West End stage this year after his South Boston-set drama Good People transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre, where it is currently playing until 14 June.
Rabbit Hole will open at the Vaudeville Theatre following the current run of Olivier Award-winning hit Handbagged, which is playing until 2 August.