Aisling Loftus and Vicky McClure to star in 40th anniversary production of Touched

Nottingham Playhouse have announced initial casting for their 40th anniversary production of Stephen Lowe’s Touched

Nottingham-born Vicky McClure, who won a BAFTA Award for her performance in This Is England '86, will play Sandra alongside Aisling Loftus and Sarah Beck Mather as sisters Joan and Bridie.

Best known for her television appearances in Line of Duty and Broadchurch, Touched will be McClure's first major stage role.

Loftus' TV credits include the BBC's adaptation of Tolstoy's War and Peace and ITV's Mr Selfridge. Her theatre credits include Michael Frayn’s Noises Off at the Old Vic and Anya Reiss’ Spur of The Moment at The Royal Court.

Directed by Matt Aston (A Day in the Death of Joe Egg), Touched is a World War II drama set in Nottingham during the 100 days between VE and VJ Day.

On the production, Aston said: "Vicky McClure was always my first choice to play the part of Sandra in Touched. Despite the play premiering in 1977 it’s as if the play has been written for her.

"It was my intention to cast the show with the authentic Nottingham voice at its core. We’ve managed to achieve that and I couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of getting started."

Touched runs at Nottingham Playhouse from 17 February to 4 March 2017.