Theatre News

Strindberg's The Father comes to Trafalgar Studios in March

Alex Ferns will play the title role in Laurie Slade’s adaptation

Alex Ferns
Alex Ferns

Laurie Slade's new version of August Strindberg's The Father will receive its London premiere at Trafalgar Studios 2 in March.

Directed by Abbey Wright, the production will star Alex Ferns (True West, EastEnders) as the Captain.

Joining Ferns in the company are June Watson, Thomas Coombes, Emily Dobbs and Barnaby Sax, with further casting to be announced.

The adaptation originally ran at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry in 2012 and has subsequently been broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

The play centres on an uneasy stand-off between the Captain and his wife, Laura, which is exacerbated by a disagreement over the future of their daughter, Bertha. Laura will stop at nothing to gain control of her daughter's future. When she suggests to the Captain that he may not be the girl's father, a chain of events is set in motion that cannot be stopped.

According to press material, Slade's version is a "psychologically astute portrayal of gender roles, attitudes to marriage and the battle between science and religion".

The Father is produced by Jagged Fence Productions. James Turner will design, with lighting by Gary Bowman, music by Simon Slater and casting by Annie Rowe. It runs from 11 March to 11 April 2015.