Rickman, Duncan & Shaw Bring Back Borkman???

It’s a line-up worth travelling for – or possibly, so good it’s made for travelling. The Abbey Theatre, Dublin’s upcoming production of Henrik Ibsen’s 1897 classic John Gabriel Borkman stars Alan Rickman, Lindsay Duncan (whose previous renowned onstage pairings have been in Les Liaisons Dangereuses for the RSC and Private Lives in the West End and on Broadway) and Fiona Shaw. The play, in a new version by Frank McGuiness directed by James Macdonald, follows the once-great John Gabriel Borkman (Rickman) as he attempts to put his life back together following financial scandal and jail. But the arrival of an ex-lover, Mrs Ella Rentheim (Duncan) changes everything for him and his wife (Shaw).

The last major London production of the play starred Ian McDiarmid, Penelope Wilton and Deborah Findlay at the Donmar Warehouse in 2007. Is the West End ready for another one? With that kind of line-up, we’d guess yes – but you may want to book your flight to Dublin now to ensure you don’t miss out. John Gabriel Borkman is at the Abbey Theatre from 6 October to 20 November 2010.