Lydia Wilson (Ripper Street), who was set to play Blanche in the Almeida’s forthcoming revival of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, has withdrawn from the production due to health reasons.
She will be replaced by Patsy Ferran.
The show also stars Paul Mescal (Normal People) as Stanley, and Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts) as Stella, and is the return to the Almeida of star director Rebecca Frecknall (Cabaret), following her acclaimed production of Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke at the theatre in 2018.
Patsy Ferran starred in Frecknall’s acclaimed production of Summer and Smoke, for which she scooped an Olivier Award and Critics’ Circle Theatre Award. Her other credits include Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud Theatre, Three Sisters at the Almeida, and A Christmas Carol at the Bridge Theatre.
A Streetcar Named Desire was scheduled to start performances on 10 December 2022, but this has now been pushed back to 17 December 2022. The show is booking to 4 February 2023.
The press night has also been pushed, from 20 December 2022, to 12 January 2023.
Other cast in the play include Dwane Walcott (Machinal) as Mitch, plus Eduardo Ackerman, Ralph Davis (Much Ado About Nothing; The Tempest; King Lear Shakespeare’s Globe), Janet Etuk (I, Joan; Henry VIII Shakespeare’s Globe), Gabriela García (Strictly Ballroom West End), Tom Penn (Midnight Movie Royal Court) and Jabez Sykes (Rock / Paper / Scissors Sheffield Theatres).
The creative team includes set design by Madeleine Girling; costume design by Merle Hensel; lighting design by Lee Curran; sound design by Peter Rice; music by Angus MacRae; and casting by Julia Horan CDG.
Almeida shows currently in the West End include The Doctor starring Juliet Stevenson, at the Duke of York’s Theatre until 11 December 2022; and Peter Morgan’s Patriots starring Tom Hollander at the Noel Coward Theatre.
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