The Swedes are coming: Waiting for Wallander at Wyndham’s?

Wallander fans may have already detected this one, but it’s still an intriguing mystery to us. The titular star of the crime series based on the Henning Mankel novels is coming to the West End. No, we’re not talking about a new role Kenneth Branagh, but rather a new theatrical venture for the original Scandinavian ‘Wallander’, Swedish actor Krister Hendriksson.

Hendriksson will be in London on 12 September 2012 to talk about a “very special project coming to the West End’s Wyndham’s Theatre in April 2013”. The press launch is being held at Wyndham’s and Whatsonstage.com will, of course, be there to report the full news as soon as it’s announced.

The current Wyndham’s production, the Menier Chocolate Factory transfer of Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party is due to finish this Saturday (1 September 2012), and the next scheduled production, a revival of Simon Gray’s Quartermaine’s Terms, for a limited season from 23 January 2013. 

It’s not often Swedes make the news on Whatsonstage.com, which has made us even more curious about this latest invitation. Having said that, maybe there’s more Swedish goings-on in Theatreland than we’re aware of. Off the top of my head, all the West End Swedes I can think of are: current Phantom Peter Joback, the waitress who won a stint as the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot’s first West End season via a Swedish reality TV programme, and, of course, Benny and Bjorn, whose Abba hits provide the inspiration for Mamma Mia!. Who else am I missing?