Corr sister to make London stage debut

Singer Andrea Corr is to make her London stage debut at the Old Vic, it was announced today.

Sam Mendes, Ethan Hawke and Kevin Spacey will take part in a line-up of productions at the theatre, which begin in January.

Corr will star alongside Niamh Cusack in Brian Friel's Olivier award-winning play, Dancing at Lughnasa.

Described as a "bittersweet reflection of rural Ireland in the '30s on the brink of industrialisation", the play centres around five sisters.

It will open in late February in its first West End production since its premiere in 1990.

In January Kevin Spacey will direct the world premiere of a new play by Joe Sutton, Complicit.

The American play explores the current political climate and is based around Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ben Kritzer who finds himself hauled in front of a Supreme Court special prosecutor.

Artistic director Spacey said: "I am thrilled to get a chance to direct Complicit in-the-round.

"It is a truly inspirational space and I am delighted to stage a new work alongside some classic pieces.

"I couldn't be happier that we've attracted such a terrific cast to Dancing at Lughnasa...

"And we finally get to welcome Sam Mendes to The Old Vic, which will be a great moment for audiences and actors alike.

"This is a really interesting set of productions and we can't wait to present them."

Academy Award-winner Mendes will return to the London stage to direct a double-bill of classics; The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov and The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare.

The transatlantic cast will include Hawke, Simon Russell Beale, Sinead Cusack, Richard Easton, Rebecca Hall, Josh Hamilton and Paul Jesson.