Theatre News

Wallander‘s Krister Henriksson makes West End debut in Doktor Glas

As previously tipped by Whatsonstage.com, Krister Henriksson, best know as Wallander in the
acclaimed Swedish TV series, will make his West End debut next year in Doktor
Glas
, which transfers to Wyndham’s Theatre in April following its run at Sweden’s
National Theatre.

Adapted from the novel by Hjalmer Söderberg and
performed in its original Swedish with English surtitles, the one-man play will run at
Wyndham’s from 16 April to 11 May 2013.

Directed by Henriksson and Peder Bjurman, Doktor Glas tells the story of a 19th century physician who falls madly in love
with the beautiful young wife of a corrupt clergyman. When she confides in
him that her marriage is making her miserable, he agrees to help in whatever
way he can, driving the play towards its shocking climax.

At a launch event held today at the Leicester Square Theatre, producer Martin Witts told Whatsonstage.com he hopes the production will mark the first in a regular collaboration with the Swedish National Theatre. “We were very pleased to secure Wyndham’s,” he added, “which is very similar to the Dramaten Theatre in Stockholm in terms of scale.”

TO SCROLL THROUGH ALL OF DOKTOR
GLAS
‘s LAUNCH PHOTOS,
JUST CLICK ON THE “NEXT >” LINKS BELOW THE FOLLOWING FRAME.
PHOTOS BY DAN WOOLLER FOR WHATSONSTAGE.COM.

Henriksson, who made his breakthrough at the Stockholm City Theatre in the lead
role of Peer Gynt, said: “Since I was a student of theatre I’ve been many times to the West End and seen the fantastic actors you have, so for me it is a dream that I should play in the West End.”

He also revealed that he once had to take three years off acting due to stage fright, which was so severe it led to him being hospitalised.

Henriksson has played a string of major roles on stages around the world, including working alongside Ingmar
Bergman when he directed him in A Winter’s Tale at the Royal Dramatic
Theatre (Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern). Later Bergman chose
Henriksson for the role as the young Bergman in Liv Ullman’s film Faithless
(Trolösa), which was based on Bergman’s manuscript.

In Wallander he played maverick detective Kurt Wallander in the original Swedish series adapted from Henning Mankell’s novels. It was subsequently adapted by the BBC for a British version starring Kenneth Branagh.