International NewsBridge Theatre's John Gabriel Borkman Starring Tony Winner Simon Russell Beale Plays Final Performance November 26
Olivier and Tony nominee Lia Williams and Olivier winner Clare Higgins also star in the Ibsen play.
By
Leah Putnam
November 26, 2022
Tony winner Simon Russell Beale (The Lehman Trilogy, Jumpers) plays the titular character of Henrik Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkmanfor the final time as the production at London's Bridge Theatre closes its run November 26 as scheduled. Previews originally began September 24 for the play which opened September 29.
Beale leads the cast as John Gabriel Borkman along with Olivier winner Clare Higgins (Hecuba,Vincent in Brixton) as Gunhild Borkman, and Olivier and Tony nominee Lia Williams (Skylight, Oresteia) as Ella Rentheim. Also in the cast are Sebastian De Souza who stars as Erhart Borkman, with Daisy Ou as Frida Foldal, Michael Simkins as Willhelm Foldal, and Ony Uhiara as Fanny Wilton. Serving as understudies are Nick Barclay, Hilary Derrett, and Catharine Humphrys.
Ibsen’s play tells the story of entrepreneur John Gabriel Borkman whose fortunes take a turn when he is sentenced to prison for fraud. Bankrupt and disgraced, he obsesses over a return to success and glory in the isolation of a room upstairs, while downstairs, his estranged wife plans to restore the family name. All plots are upset, however, by the arrival of her sister and a sudden confrontation with the past.
Olivier and Tony winner Nicholas Hytner (The History Boys, Carousel) directs the new version of the Ibsen work from Lucinda Coxon, with associate direction by Isabel Marr.
The creative team includes Tony-nominated set designer Anna Fleischle, costume designer and associate set designer Liam Bunster, lighting designer James Farncombe, sound designer Gareth Fry, costume supervisor Olivia Ward, props supervisor Lily Mollgaard, production manager Kate West, and voice coach Jeannette Nelson. Casting is by Robert Sterne. Coxon's version is based on the literal translation by Charlotte Barslund.
The play comes on the heels of a broader cultural conversation about Dahl's work and the prejudice that was embedded in many of his most beloved stories.