Oscar winner to make UK theatre debut in Ibsen’s The Woman from the Sea

There is a sturdy likelihood you should have seen Alicia Vikander on display screen up to now decade, because of performances in movies reminiscent of Tomb Raider, Ex Machina and her Oscar-winning function in The Danish Lady.

One place you will not have seen her throughout that point, nonetheless, is on stage.

The Swedish actress hasn’t appeared within the theatre for 17 years, when she was a young person. However that is about to vary.

Vikander will star in a brand new West Finish manufacturing of Ibsen’s The Woman from the Sea, which will even be her UK theatre debut.

Talking to BBC Information, Vikander, 36, mentioned she was “thrilled” to be returning to the stage, however added it was a “daunting factor to do… it is my first time on stage as an grownup”.

The manufacturing will play at London’s Bridge Theatre for eight weeks from 10 September, organisers introduced on Wednesday.

“I grew up being on the theatre lots, my mom [Maria Fahl] was a stage actress, and I believe even once I was dreaming of changing into an actress myself, being on stage was the journey that I sort of visualised,” Vikander mentioned.

“Again in Sweden, the place I am from, should you’re an actor then actually what you might be is on stage. And also you’re fortunate to perhaps have a TV present or movie each couple of years, as a result of that is how small the business is in Sweden.

“So I believe that is what I all the time noticed in entrance of me. After which life occurred, and all through the years [theatre] has all the time been one thing I have been ready for and pondering ‘it would occur’.”

The play has been tailored and directed by Simon Stone, and also will star The Strolling Useless’s Andrew Lincoln.

Vikander will play lead character Ellida, the sea-loving daughter of a lighthouse-keeper.

Ellida is married to a Norwegian physician, however when a sailor she was once engaged to abruptly returns, she is compelled to decide on between her present and former lover.

The play marks the introduction of the character Hilde Wangel, one of many physician’s daughters from a earlier marriage.

Hilde goes on to seem in one in every of Ibsen’s later performs, The Grasp Builder, a brand new adaptation of which is coincidentally additionally at present within the West Finish, starring Ewan McGregor.

An adaptation of one other Ibsen play, Enemy of the Individuals, opened in London final 12 months starring Physician Who actor Matt Smith.

Director Stone has beforehand helmed movies reminiscent of The Dig and The Daughter, whereas his in depth theatre credit embody productions of Yerma, Phaedra, Medea and Angels in America.

“He as soon as once more goes to take a basic and reinvent it and make or not it’s one thing that’s relatable to our fashionable viewers right this moment,” Vikander mentioned.

“And once I was advised he was doing Ibsen and The Woman from the Sea, I assume that going again to my Scandinavian and Swedish heritage, it sort of felt like an ideal match.”

Vikander mentioned she felt the rationale most of the classics are nonetheless being carried out within the West Finish is that they sort out most of the similar topics society nonetheless grapples with right this moment.

“I’ve discussions with my associates, I simply handed 35, I am getting near my 40s quickly and I’ve my youngsters, however I nonetheless really feel extraordinarily younger. Actually younger. Typically I am like, ‘I am 25 nonetheless!’

“However then I additionally realise I am coming into this very new chapter which is de facto thrilling, however I believe in case you are in a spot the place you are feeling like you have not fulfilled sure goals or tried issues, you are still questioning the place these decisions or motion would have led you, then I believe it is extraordinarily human factor.

“Girls all through historical past have been held again, perhaps as a result of they did not have the identical alternatives, or they financially could not do some issues, or ended up in conditions the place it was more durable to interrupt away from the function of being a mom.

“So due to this fact once I learn it, I really feel like I completely perceive the turmoil this girl goes by means of, and I do not assume people have modified that a lot from a core, emotional standpoint. And I believe that is why we’re curious about these tales.”

She added: “It is unimaginable that the massive common questions are one thing we’re nonetheless battling in the identical method.”

Vikander mentioned she was “tremendous excited and splendidly nervous” to start the workshopping course of with Stone within the coming weeks, out of which he’ll start to supply the ultimate script.

Because the present continues to be being developed, it has not but been confirmed what the setting shall be for this manufacturing.

One other UK adaptation of The Woman from the Sea carried out in 2017 on the Donmar Theatre moved the story to the Caribbean within the Fifties.

The brand new adaptation is billed as her UK stage debut, however Vikander notes it is really her first theatre of any sort since she was 19.

“I did theatre for my teenagers for lots of years, like a toddler actor, after which the very last thing I did was once I was a dancer for the Stockholm Opera Home,” she defined.

“I grew up watching my mom doing theatre, and I ‘d all the time watch from afar, and I am unable to wait to try to do it myself.

“It is a daunting factor to do, clearly, it is my first time on stage as an grownup, and it is on the London stage, and clearly I need to be certain that individuals get their ticket cash’s value! However I am actually excited.”