Stage and screen stars Tom Burke and Hayley Atwell will lead the cast of a new adaptation of Ibsen’s political drama Rosmersholm in the West End, adapted by Duncan Macmillan.
The classic play, which explores a country absorbed by political flux, will be lent a fresh take by writer Macmillan, whose acclaimed previous plays include People, Places And Things; a collaborative adaptation with Robert Icke of 1984; and Every Brilliant Thing.
Rosmersholm transports audiences to a country on the brink and with an election looming. Amidst the political turbulence stands the grand house of an influential dynasty, where the future will be decided by John Rosmer (Burke) – a man torn between an idealised vision of the future, and the ghosts of his past.
The play marks Burke’s first appearance on the West End stage since starring in The Deep Blue Sea at the National Theatre in 2016. He is best known for his leading role in Strike, the BBC television adaptation of JK Rowling’s (pseudonym: Robert Galbraith) Cormoran Strike novels.
Atwell will star opposite him as Rebecca West, a resident of the family home who seeks to manipulate her friendship with Rosmer to undermine his beliefs. Atwell recently won acclaim for her roles in Measure For Measure at the Donmar Warehouse and Dry Powder at the Hampstead Theatre; she is also widely known for playing Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Rosmersholm will be directed by Ian Rickson (Jerusalem, The Birthday Party), with set and costumes by Rae Smith, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Stephen Warbeck, sound by Gregory Clarke and casting by Amy Ball.
Performances begin on April 24 at the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre, officially opening on 2 May.