Jude Law Stars in Ivo van Hove's OBSESSION at the Barbican in 2017

Jude Law returns to the stage in April 2017 to star in the world premiere of OBSESSION, a stage adaptation of Luchino Visconti's 1943 film. It's part of Ivo van Hove's Toneelgroep Amsterdam Barbican residency, which also includes the return of their ROMAN TRAGEDIES and a double bill based on Ingmar Bergman films. All four plays will be directed by van Hove.

The residency begins with Roman Tragedies (March 17-19), which combines Shakespeare's Coriolanus, Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra. The six-hour show uses multimedia and encourages the audience to move around the theatre in order to view the protagonists from different perspectives.

In penetrating social drama Obsession (April 19-May 20), Jude Law plays the magnetically handsome, down-at-heel Gino, who plots the murder of his lover's husband. Visconti's film was based on James M Cain's novel The Postman Always Rings Twice. The production brings together members of the Toneelgroep Amsterdam ensemble and British actors. Following the Barbican run, it will tour to Vienna, Amsterdam and Luxembourg.

Finally, After the Rehearsal/Persona (September 27-30) is a new reimagining of two Bergman screenplays about the chaotic lives of theatre people, performed by four Toneelgroep actors on a set that transforms from sparse to scenically breathtaking.

The Barbican's relationship with Toneelgroep began with Roman Tragedies in 2009, followed by 2011's Antonioni Project, 2013's Scenes from a Marriage, also based on a Bergman film, last year's Juliette Binoche-starring Antigone, and most recently Shakespeare marathon Kings of War. In addition to the four plays, their 2017 residency will include talks and workshops for young people. For more information and to book tickets, call 0845 120 7511 or visit theatre.barbican.org.uk

Jude Law said: "I'd heard great things about Ivo van Hove and when I saw A View from the Bridge at the Young Vic and then Antigone at the Barbican I knew he was someone I really wanted to have the opportunity to work with. And now I can't wait to return to the Barbican, where I performed 22 years ago with the RSC, to take on the role of Gino, immortalised in the 1943 classic, Ossessione by Luchino Visconti, whose films I adore."

Toni Racklin, head of theatre at the Barbican, said: "When I first saw Roman Tragedies I knew that Toneelgroep Amsterdam was an exceptional company and Ivo van Hove a truly inspiring director. Since introducing London audiences to that production in 2009 our two organisations have established an extremely successful ongoing relationship. With the international success of our co-production of Antigone and most recently the phenomenal Kings of War here at the Barbican, we eagerly anticipate this new world premiere of Obsession. We are especially grateful to our co-commissioning partners, Wiener Festwochen and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, whose support makes this production possible."

Ivo van Hove said: "It's very exciting to bring British actors and specifically Jude Law together with actors from our Toneelgroep Amsterdam ensemble for the first time. Obsession is a raw and timeless tale about idealised love and its fleeting nature. Major themes that resonate for all time which I am looking forward to staging at the Barbican, a venue I consider to be our London home."

In 2014 van Hove directed A View from the Bridge at the Young Vic for which he won Best Director at the Olivier Awards and Critics' Circle Theatre Awards. The production transferred to the West End and played on Broadway, where it has been nominated for five Tony Awards. Van Hove staged the world premiere of the opera Brokeback Mountain (2014) at Teatro Real in Madrid and Lazarus (2015) from David Bowie and Enda Walsh at New York Theatre Workshop. Van Hove's Tony Award-nominated The Crucible, with Saoirse Ronan and Ben Whishaw, is currently playing on Broadway. At the end of this year he directs Hedda Gabler at the National Theatre.

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