SHERMAN Cymru has announced the cast for their full-blooded new production of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House.

An exceptional group of actors from stage and screen will form the cast of Rachel O’Riordan’s bold new staging of playwright Simon Stephen’s version of the Ibsen masterpiece, which will be performed at the theatre from October 9-24.

A Doll’s House tells the story of Nora, loving wife and doting mother, seemingly content in her middle-class household. That is, until a figure from her past unlocks a chain of events to unearth Nora’s secret, unravelling her relationships and revealing the reality of her life and situation.

Originally produced in Norway in 1879, A Doll’s House shocked audiences with its provocative challenge to the accepted view of a woman’s role within marriage. The play continues to tell a timeless and relevant story that explores women’s sacrifices, and one woman’s realisation of the constraints of money, marriage and motherhood to her own identity and purpose.

Director Rachel O’Riordan said: “This play originally shocked audiences, depicting a woman who realises she is deeply constrained and unhappy in her role as wife and mother. Nora heralded a new female agency in modern theatre. This discourse around accepted female roles in society remains relevant now.”

Welsh actor Leila Crerar will play the lead role of Nora, largely viewed as one of the most intense and pivotal roles for a female actor to perform. Leila has worked with Rachel O’Riordan before, playing Lady Macbeth in her production of Macbeth for Perth Theatre in 2013.

Two other Welsh actors make up the home-grown cohort in the production’s cast. Port Talbot born and bred Francine Morgan (Stella, The Passion National Theatre Wales) will play Anna, while the shady character of Krogstad will be played by Robert Vernon. A Doll’s House will mark his first return to the Sherman stage since playing The Beast in Sherman Cymru’s 2007 Christmas production of Beauty and the Beast.

Nora’s husband Torvald will be played by Alex Blake (BBC’s The Crimson Road), Kristine by Kelly Williams (From Morning to Midnight, National Theatre and Rats’ Tales, Manchester Royal Exchange) and Dr Rank by Paul McEwan (BBC’s Peaky Blinders).

In a mark of Sherman Cymru’s ongoing commitment to the development of emerging Welsh talent, A Doll’s House is also offering a unique skills development opportunity for budding welsh actors. The role of Helene will be played by an apprentice actor, while the roles of Nora’s young sons Ivar and Jon will be played by a split cast of four young South Wales based actors; brothers Celt and Cynyr Llewelyn-Jones (ages nine and 13) from Llanelli, Charlie Fowler (aged nine) from Morganstown, Cardiff and Adam Mulligan (age 13) from Cwmbran.

The production also reunites Rachel O’Riordan with Sherman artistic associate, designer Kenny Miller following their successful partnership last autumn with Romeo and Juliet, O’Riordan’s first production for Sherman Cymru following her taking up the position of Artistic Director of Sherman Theatre in spring 2014.

Tickets to the show are available from shermancymru.co.uk or call 02920 646900.