Michelle Dockery and Laura Aikman to star in Ava Pickett’s Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy, a new play by Ava Pickett, which will be directed by Lisa Spirling in her directorial debut as artistic director of the venue.

The play follows Helen as she returns home years after leaving her family for a war fought in her name. Over the course of a single night, she reunites with her husband and her childhood friend, as tensions resurface and the impact of her departure becomes clear.

Michelle Dockery and Laura Aikman will lead the cast of the world premiere, playing the roles of Helen and Cee. The creative team includes set and costume designer Polly Sullivan, lighting designer Zeynep Kepekli, sound designer and composer Nicola T Chang, movement director Kloé Dean, casting director Juliet Horsley and dramaturg Ed Madden.

Pickett’s debut play 1536 won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize in 2024 and received a special commendation at the George Devine Award. The production premiered at the Almeida Theatre and later won Pickett the Best Writer award at The Stage Debut Awards, before a sold-out run at the Ambassadors Theatre from May 2026. A television adaptation has been commissioned by the BBC.

Dockery said: “Ava is such an extraordinary voice in storytelling right now and I’m delighted to be part of this bold reimagining of Helen’s return from Troy. Stratford East’s history of bringing vital and ambitious stories to life makes it the perfect home for this production.”

Aikman added: “From the moment I read Ava’s brilliant script I was desperate to play Cee. I think we can deliver something really gripping and I can’t wait to get started.”

Pickett commented: “I feel so excited and lucky to be working with Lisa, Michelle and Laura on this new play at Stratford East. To be given the opportunity to reimagine characters we feel we know is such a privilege and I can’t wait to share this story with audiences!”

Picket’s stage credits include The Manningtree Witches at the Mercury Theatre and Emma at the Rose Theatre. Her screen credits include work on Brassic, The Buccaneers, The Great and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, and she is co-writing a film about Joan of Arc with Baz Luhrmann for Warner Bros.

Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy will run at Stratford East from 3 September to the newly extended end date of 10 October 2026, with a press night on 10 September.

This production is supported by Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Eilene Davidson Productions and Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust.