Almeida's Ghosts confirms West End transfer

It has been confirmed that the Almeida Theatre’s production of Ibsen’s Ghosts, adapted and directed by Richard Eyre, will transfer to Trafalgar Studios. Lesley Manville, Jack Lowden, Brian McCardie and Charlene McKenna will reprise their roles and Adam Kotz will join the cast as Pastor Manders.

The production will begin performances from Tuesday 17th December and the limited season is expected to run until 8th March 2014. The transfer is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions as well as the Almeida. Jamie Lloyd will then return to Trafalgar Studios next Spring with a new season of work, following the recent success of Trafalgar Transformed.

Gossip: Almeida Theatre's Ghosts transfers to Trafalgar Studios, Jamie Lloyd's season to return next year

According to the Daily Mail, the Almeida Theatre's production of Ghosts will transfer to Trafalgar Studios from 9th December for a limited West End season. 

This means that Jamie Lloyd's first West End season 'Trafalgar Transformed' will end sooner than planned. However, Baz Bamigboye has claimed that Lloyd will return with a new season next Spring, after he has directed the West End premiere of Urinetown at the St James Theatre.

Lloyd's production of Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride starring Hayley Atwell, Harry Hadden-Patton, Al Weaver and Matthew Horne will end Trafalgar Transformed on 23rd November. The production will then tour the UK next year, visiting Manchester, Richmond and Brighton.

Theatre Gossip: Matt Smith to star in Almeida Theatre's American Psycho?

The Daily Mail has reported that Doctor Who star Matt Smith has begun rehearsals for American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre. Please remember this gossip is yet to be confirmed.

The production, which opens on 12th December (previews from 3rd December), is a musical version of Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial novel American Psycho, about a Wall Street serial killer. 

A source apparently told the Daily Mail that "It’s a damn difficult role to pull off and Smith has charm and the acting chops to do it. It’s bold casting and brave for Smith to take it on." The article also suggests plans for West End and Broadway transfers, should the initial run be a success. 

Full casting announced for Ghosts at the Almeida Theatre

Final casting has been announced for Ghosts at the Almeida Theatre.

The production will see Richard Eyre return to the Almeida to adapt and direct Ibsen’s famous play. Ghosts opens on 3rd October 2013 (previews from 26th September) and runs until 23rd November 2013.

Brian McCardie (Jacob Engstrand) and Charlene McKenna (Regina Engstrand) join the previously announced Lesley Manville (Helene Alving), Jack Lowden (Oswald Alving) and Will Keen (Pastor Manders).   

Helene Alving has spent her life suspended in an emotional void after the death of her cruel but outwardly charming husband. She is determined to escape the ghosts of her past by telling her son, Oswald, the truth about his father. But on his return from his life as a painter in France, Oswald reveals how he has already inherited the legacy of his father’s dissolute life.