Sophie Ward to star in adaptation of Brave New World

It has been announced that Sophie Ward is to star in a new adaptation of Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel Brave New World.

Ward will play Margaret Mond, a character which in Huxley's novel is male. On changing the gender of this role, Dawn King, writer of the adaptation, said: "I took this decision primarily because as a feminist, I wanted to increase the gender equality of the show. I also felt that having a female world controller of Western Europe is more representative of our world today, and of a world of the future."

Ward's acting credits include Holby City, A Dark Adapted Eye and Jane Eyre, with her theatre work including Private Lives, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Flare Path.

Brave New World is directed by James Dacre, with design by Naomi Dawson and music by These New Puritans.

Brave New World runs at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 4 – 26 September 2015, followed by a UK tour.