The premiere of Howard Brenton’s new adaptation of August Strindberg’s The Dance Of Death will open at the Gate theatre later this year, starring Linda Marlowe and Michael Pennington.
Directed by Tom Littler, who makes his Gate theatre debut with the production, Dances Of Death tells the story of a couple trapped in a marriage of mutual loathing and will play at the Notting Hill venue from 30 May (press night 6 June) to 6 July.
Australian actress Marlowe has previously appeared on the London stage in productions including A Flea In Her Ear, Decadence and Coriolanus and on screen in films including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The House Of Mirth, while stage veteran Pennington’s credits include West End productions of Taking Sides, Collaboration and The Master Builder on stage, as well as Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi and The Iron Lady on screen.
55 Days writer Brenton’s other plays include Anne Boleyn and forthcoming drama #aiww: The Arrest Of Ai Weiwei, which opens at the Hampstead theatre next month.
The announcement comes with news of Forest Fringe, the award-winning community of artists creating work at the Edinburgh Festival and beyond, which returns to the Gate theatre following the success of their collaboration last year.
Featuring Ant Hampton and Glen Neath’s Romcom (22-27 April) and a show from avant-garde performer Dickie Beau (29 April to 4 May), the festival will also offer an array of talks, films, music and work-in-progress performances curated by the headline artists.