Nicole Kidman returns to the London stage for the first time in more than 15 years to play British scientist Rosalind Franklin in the UK premiere of Photograph 51 at the Noël Coward Theatre.

Reuniting Kidman and director Michael Grandage following their recent collaboration on the forthcoming feature film Genius, Anna Ziegler’s play charts the story of a precious photograph and the race against time that Franklin faces to see it and, more importantly, understand it before her rival scientists.

Best known for her numerous screen roles in films including Moulin Rouge!, The Hours, Cold Mountain and Rabbit Hole, the Australian actress returns to the London stage following her performance in 1998’s The Blue Room at the Donmar Warehouse.

Photograph 51 is the latest offering from the Michael Grandage Theatre Company, which enjoyed a star-studded West End season between 2012 and 2014 with productions including the Judi Dench-led Peter And Alice and The Cripple Of Inishmaan starring Daniel Radcliffe.