Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery has landed a role in a "bold reimagining" of a classic Greek mythology figure. The actor will appear alongside Gavin & Stacey's Laura Aikman in Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy at London's Stratford East theatre.
Set to premiere later this year, 1536 writer Ava Pickett's play focuses on Helen after walking out on her family, returning back home after the war fought in her name.
However, while her husband "celebrates", childhood friend Cee is not so enthusiastic, and "over the course of this first fragile night of peace time, wounds reopen, loyalties fracture and the true cost of a woman's choice to leave her life is made clear".
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Bloodsport is further described as a play about "friendship, motherhood, and what happens when the woman whose face started a war, returns home to finish it".
The production will run between 3 September to 10 October, with fans able to get tickets via the theatre's official website.
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"Ava is such an extraordinary voice in storytelling right now and I’m delighted to be part of this bold reimagining of Helen’s return from Troy," Dockery said. "Stratford East’s history of bringing vital and ambitious stories to life makes it the perfect home for this production."
Aikman added: "From the moment I read Ava’s brilliant script I was desperate to play Cee. I think we can deliver something really gripping and I can’t wait to get started."
"I feel so excited and lucky to be working with [director] Lisa [Spirling], Michelle and Laura on this new play at Stratford East," shared Pickett. "To be given the opportunity to reimagine characters we feel we know is such a privilege and I can't wait to share this story with audiences!"
Dockery is perhaps best known for playing Lady Mary Crawley in Downton Abbey, most recently reprising the role in last year's movie The Grand Finale.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
