Anderson, Eccleston star in A DOLL'S HOUSE

Nora loves her husband above all else. But when she risks her reputation in order to save his, she begins to question her devotion and finds herself fighting for her own life.

Zinnie Harris's new version - opening at the Donmar on May 14 - is set against the backdrop of British politics at the turn of the last century, in a world where duty, power and hypocrisy rule.

Henrik Ibsen is generally acknowledged as the father of modern drama. His other plays include The Master Builder, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, The Wild Duck and Peer Gynt.

Gillian Anderson plays Nora. Her theatre work in the UK includes What the Night is For (Comedy Theatre) and The Sweetest Swing in Baseball (Royal Court). Her television work includes the critically acclaimed Bleak House and X-Files; and for film, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, Boogie Woogie and The Last King of Scotland.

Christopher Eccleston plays Neil Kelman. His theatre work includes Hamlet and Electricity (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and Miss Julie (Theatre Royal Haymarket). For television, his credits include Heroes, Perfect Parents, Dr Who (Most Popular Actor, National Television Awards), The League of Gentlemen, The Second Coming, Flesh and Blood (Best Actor Award, Royal Television Society Awards), Sunday, Othello, Linda Green, Clocking Off, Hillsborough and Cracker; and for film, Amelia, GI Joe, 28 Days Later, The Others, Elizabeth, Jude, Shallow Grave and Let Him Have It.

TAra Fitzgerald plays Christine Lyle. Her theatre work includes And Then There Were None (Gielgud Theatre), A Streetcar Named Desire (Bristol Old Vic), Antigone (Old Vic) and Hamlet (Almeida at the Hackney Empire and Broadway). For television, her credits include Waking the Dead, Jane Eyre, The Virgin Queen, Love Again, In the Name of Love, Frenchman's Creek, The Woman in White, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and The Camomile Lawn; and for film, Five Children and It, I Capture the Castle, Brassed Off, A Man of No Importance and Sirens.

Anton Lesser plays Dr Rank. His theatre credits include The Vertical Hour (Royal Court), Julius Caesar (Barbican and tour), Cymbeline, Hamlet (RSC), Lucky Ones (Hampstead Theatre), Private Lives, Mutabilitie, Wild Oats and The Birthday Party (National Theatre) and Art (Wyndham's Theatre). His television work includes The Palace, Messiah, The Outsiders, Vital Signs, Dirty Filthy Love, Peter Ackroyd's London, The Project, Perfect Strangers, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Vanity Fair and The Politician's Wife; and for film, Einstein and Eddington, Miss Potter, Girl in the Cafe and Charlotte Gray.

Toby Stephens returns to the Donmar to play Thomas. He previously played Jerry in Betrayal. His other theatre work includes The Country Wife, The Royal Family, A Streetcar Named Desire (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Hamlet, Coriolanus (RSC), Japes (West End and Mercury Theatre, Colchester), Ring Around the Moon (Lincoln Center) and Phèdre/Britannicus (Almeida at the Albery). His television credits include Wired, Jane Eyre, Wild West, The Best Man, Margaret, Five Little Pigs, Cambridge Spies, Perfect Strangers, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, A View from the Bridge and Camomile Lawn; and for film, Dark Corners, Severance, The Rising, Die Another Day, Possession, The Great Gatsby, Eugene Onegin and Orlando.

Maggie Wells plays Annie. Her theatre credits include work for Shakespeare's Globe, the Young Vic and Oxford Stage Company, many productions with Mike Alfreds and Shared Experience, including The Three Sisters and The Seagull. Most recently The Three Sisters Too (Orange Tree Theatre). Her television credits include Where the Heart Is (series regular), Uncle Silas and Tracey Beaker.

Leah Davies and Ted O'Neil, Abby NeGus and William Nye play Nora and Thomas' twins Emmy and Ivor on alternate evenings.

Zinnie Harris is a playwright, screenwriter and director. Her plays include Fall (Traverse Theatre), Solstice (RSC), Midwinter (RSC and tour), Nightingale and Chase (Royal Court), Further Than the Furthest Thing (Traverse Theatre, Tron Theatre, National Theatre and Tricycle Theatre - Peggy Ramsay Foundation Award, Fringe First Award and John Whiting Award) and By Many Wounds (Hampstead Theatre). Harris adapted Miss Julie for The National Theatre of Scotland in 2006.

Award-winning director Kfir Yefet makes his Donmar debut. His credits include Is That All There Is? (Almeida Theatre), Shimmer, Don't You Ever Call Me Anything But Mother (Mermaid Theatre) and The Soldier's Tale. His film It's Not Unusual won the BAFTA for Best Short Film. His other film work includes Body and Soul and Ellen (also writer).

Designs are by Anthony Ward, with lighting design by Hugh Vanstone and the composer and sound designer is Tim Phillips.

 

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