Alicia Vikander, the Academy Award-winning actor known for The Danish Girl, Ex Machina, and Tomb Raider, stars as Ellida, a woman caught between the quiet life she has chosen and the mysterious, turbulent past she cannot quite escape. Making her UK stage debut, Vikander has been praised by director Simon Stone as “totally mesmerizing,” embodying the emotional complexity of a role that demands both restraint and inner fire.
Returning to the stage alongside Vikander is Andrew Lincoln, best known for The Walking Dead and Love Actually, who plays Ellida’s husband Edward. As a doctor offering her a life of stability and calm, Edward becomes both a refuge and a reminder of everything Ellida has chosen to leave behind. Stone describes Lincoln’s performance as “raw and honest,” hinting at a portrayal that delves deep into the psychology of quiet masculinity and emotional vulnerability.
Simon Stone’s adaptation reimagines The Lady from the Sea for a modern audience while preserving the existential and emotional questions that have made it a timeless piece. Set in a remote coastal town, the story follows Ellida as she navigates the pull between domestic security and wild freedom, between memory and reality. With the arrival of Heath, long presumed gone, she is forced to confront what she truly wants from life, and whether she is brave enough to choose it.
The production also boasts an impressive creative team. Lizzie Clachan, known for The Witches, designs the set, with Mel Page on costume, and Nick Schlieper on lighting. There’s original music and sound by Stefan Gregory, a frequent collaborator with Stone. Pip Terry joins as assistant designer.
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The Lady from the Sea begins previews on 10 September 2025, with opening night scheduled for 18 September, and runs at the Bridge Theatre until 8 November.