McNally, Lapaine & Varma star in Donmar Trafalgar Dance of Death

Titas Halder, resident assistant director at the Donmar from 2010-11, directs a “visceral” new version of Strindberg’s 1901 drama by Conor McPherson.

On an isolated island, Military captain Edgar (McNally) and his wife, Alice (Varma), live a bitter life, their marriage soured by hatred. When the possibility of redemption and escape arrives for Alice in the shape of their former friend Kurt (Lapaine), it seems that Edgar is prepared to use his very last breath to make their lives a living hell.

Daniel Lapaine has appeared in Hedda Gabler at the Old Vic, All My Sons at the Apollo Theatre and Scenes from the Back of Beyond and F**king Games, both at the Royal Court.

Kevin R McNally’s previous work for the Donmar includes Hamlet, Ivanov (both Donmar West End) and World Music. His other theatre work has seen numerous appearances at the National Theatre, the Royal Court, the Old Vic, Hampstead Theatre and throughout the West End.

Indira Varma’s previous work for the Donmar includes Twelfth Night (Donmar West End), The Vortex and Privates on Parade. She has also performed at the Royal Court, the Young Vic, the Almeida, the National Theatre and on Broadway.

Conor McPherson’s plays include This Lime Tree Bower (Meyer Whitworth Award), St Nicholas (George Devine Award), Dublin Carol (staged as part of last year’s Donmar Trafalgar Season), The Weir (Evening Standard, Critics’ Circle and Olivier Awards for Best Play), Port Authority, Shining City, The Seafarer, The Birds and The Veil.

This is the third and final season of Donmar Trafalgar. The last production will be Anthony Weigh‘s new version of The Silence of the Sea by Vercors (the pseudonym of Jean Bruller), which runs from 14 January to 2 February (previews from 10 January).