Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker announces exciting new role
Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker is returning to the stage after over a decade in The Duchess.
The actor will star in Zinnie Harris' acclaimed contemporary adaptation of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, playing at the Trafalgar Theatre in London for an 11-week run starting on October 5. Whittaker leads the cast in all performances except those on October 18 and 19.
The Broadchurch star plays the title role, a recently-widowed woman who goes against her family's wishes by remarrying beneath her class. When the duchess's greedy, cruel brothers discover her second marriage, they unleash a series of devastating punishments against her that repress her power.
Buy tickets for The Duchess now
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"But will their vicious atrocities come back to haunt them?" asks the official synopsis, hinting at a bloody tale of revenge unfolding on stage.
"I'm beyond delighted to return to the stage after over a decade, and even more so to lead Zinnie Harris' incredibly powerful adaptation of John Webster's harrowing drama," said Whittaker.
"Zinnie has so brilliantly propelled The Duchess of Malfi into contemporary culture, which is what originally drew me to the piece. Being able to portray the Duchess' tragic and captivating story on stage every night is a true honour."
Prior to The Duchess, Whittaker's last stage appearance was in Antigone in 2012 at the National Theatre, where she worked with another former Doctor Who star, Christopher Eccleston.
Whittaker will soon be seen in Netflix show Toxic Town, inspired by a real-life legal battle between the parents of the affected children and the council following the Corby poisonings.
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Corby, in Northamptonshire, housed a steelworks which closed down in the 1980s. Despite the local council's attempts to remove toxic industrial waste following its closure, it eventually contaminated populated areas, impacting the local residents' health.
In a landmark High Court legal case in 2009 – the first in the world to establish a link between atmospheric toxic waste and birth defects – the council was found liable in negligence, public nuisance and a breach of statutory duty.
In April, Whittaker was spotted wearing a fake baby bump while filming scenes with her co-star Michael Socha (This Is England), who walked next to her carrying a baby car seat.
The Duchess will play at the Trafalgar Theatre in London's West End for an 11-week run starting on October 5. Tickets are available via ATG Tickets and LOVEtheatre.
Toxic Town is yet to receive a release date.
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