Still Alice cast announced for West Yorkshire Playhouse

The cast for West Yorkshire Playhouse's production of the stage adaptation of Lisa Genova's novel Still Alice has been announced.

Sharon Small (Trust Me, Born to Kill) will play the titular role of Alice in the production, alongside Ruth Gemmell (Silent Witness, Penny Dreadful) in the role of Herself, the vocalisation of Alice's inner thoughts.

The cast is completed by Dominic Mafham (The Merchant of Venice, W1A) as Alice's husband John, Andrew Rothney as Alice's son Thomas and Alaïs Lawson (Journey's End) as Alice's daughter Lydia. Clara Indrani (Marcella) and Micah Balfour (Emmerdale) complete the cast.

Christine Mary Dunford adapts Genova's novel, which tells the story of university professor Alice Howland, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at the age of 50. The piece will be directed by David Grindley, with design by Jonathan Fensom, lighting design by Jason Taylor, sound design and composition by Gregory Clarke and movement direction by Francesca Jaynes.

The production opens West Yorkshire Playhouse’s Every Third Minute festival, a pioneering festival of theatre, dementia and hope.

Still Alice runs at West Yorkshire Playhouse from 9 February to 3 March.