Lady From The Sea
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Cast: Dinsdale in RET's Lady

Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre continues its current season with Henrik Ibsen’s sensual masterpiece The Lady From The Sea which opens next month.

Playwright David Eldridge has produced a new version of the play for this production from a literal translation by Charlotte Barslund.

In Ibsen’s passionate and sweeping drama, lighthouse keeper’s daughter Ellida is married to the widower Dr Wangel and trying to put her past behind her. Beyond the secure walls of her home, she is constantly drawn towards the sea and it is from here that her long-lost love returns – promising the ecstasy of the unknown.

This production is directed by Royal Exchange Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom, whose recent successes include The Children's Hour, Punk Rock (recently revived at the Lyric Theatre prior to a national tour) and the RET’s hugely popular 2009 Christmas show Blithe Spirit.

The cast includes Reece Dinsdale, as Doctor Wangel, whose extensive TV and film credits include Life On Mars, Coronation Street, Home To Roost, and A Private Function. Previous theatre work includes Racing Demon  at the National Theatre, and he has acted at the Royal Exchange in both Don Carlos and Woundings.

Neve McInistosh makes her Royal Exchange debut as Ellida. Her many television and film credits include Gormenghast, The Accused and Law and Order and other theatre work includes Proof at Perth Theatre and The Merchant Of Venice at the Edinburgh Lyceum.

Bill Ward, who plays The Stranger, is best known for his long-running role as Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street. He has previously appeared in The Studio at the Royal Exchange in Harriot and I and other theatre work includes Look Back In Anger for Northern Stage, Edward II at Battersea Arts Centre, The Tempest at Guildford Shakespeare Company and Spamalot in the West End.

The cast also includes Samuel Collings, Jonathan Keeble, Paul Kemp, Catrin Stewart and Sara Vickers. The production will also feature six supernumaries recruited from the drama department of Salford University. The creative team is completed by Liz Ascroft (design), Chahine Yavroyan (lighting) and Peter Rice (sound).

The Lady From The Sea runs at the RET, Manchester from 13 October - 6 November.

- by Glenn Meads

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