London Revival of Ibsen’s Ghosts, Starring Lesley Manville, Gets West End Transfer

Director Richard Eyre’s acclaimed revival of Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts will transfer from London’s Almeida Theatre to Trafalgar Studio One beginning December 17, starring Lesley Manville. Eyre, who was named Best Director at the recent Evening Standard Theatre Awards, adapted Ibsen’s text for the sold-out production, which is scheduled to run in the West End through March 8, 2014.

Jack Lowden, Brian McCardie and Charlene McKenna will join Manville in reprising their roles from the Almeida production, joined by Adam Kotz as Pastor Manders.

Ghosts centers on Helene Alving (Manville), who has spent her life suspended in an emotional void after the death of her cruel but outwardly charming husband. She is determined to escape the ghosts of her past by telling her son, Oswald (Lowden), the truth about his father. But after returning from his life as a painter in France, Oswald reveals how he has already inherited the legacy of his father’s dissolute life.

Manville’s theater credits include Grief, Six Degrees of Separation, All About My Mother, Top Girls and Serious Money. On film, she has collaborated with director Mike Leigh in Another Year, All or Nothing, Topsy-Turvy, Secrets and Lies and High Hopes.

The West End production of Ghosts will be produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and the Almeida Theatre.