Keira Knightley to make B'way debut in Thérèse Raquin

The Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that Oscar and Olivier Award nominee Keira Knightley will make her Broadway debut next year during the company's 50th Anniversary Season in Helen Edmundson's staged adaptation of Thérèse Raquin, directed by Evan Cabnet. Previews will begin at a yet to be confirmed Broadway theatre on 1 October 2015, before an official opening on 29 October.

The play is based upon the novel by Émile Zola: "In this tale of love, lust, betrayal, and guilt, Thérèse has made peace with her loveless marriage to a weak man when her world is turned upside down by Laurent walking through the door. Unable to ignore their passion, the pair sets off on a violent path that may have far worse consequences for the perpetrators than for the victims."

Keira Knightley made her West End debut in 2009 at the Comedy Theatre (now renamed the Harold Pinter Theatre) in Martin Crimp's translation of Molière's comedy 'The Misanthrope', directed by Thea Sharrock, for which she earned an Olivier Award nomination. She returned to the same theatre in 2011 for Lillian Hellman's 'The Children's Hour', directed by Ian Rickson. Ms Knightley is perhaps best known for her film career, and her many credits include her Oscar and Golden Globe nominated performance in 'Pride and Prejudice', her Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated performance in 'Atonement', 'The Imitation Game', 'Anna Karenina', 'King Arthur', 'Love Actually', 'Bend It Like Beckham', and 'The Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise.

Full casting and creative team for Thérèse Raquin will be announced at a later date.

The Roundabout's 50th Anniversary Season will also include the previously announced off-Broadway staging of The Humans by Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Karam and directed by two-time Tony winner Joe Mantello.

- by Tom Millward