the site. Lange to star in West End 'Desire'

Hollywood star Jessica Lange will make her West End debut as Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams's classic play A Streetcar Named Desire, it was confirmed yesterday. In the role that Vivien Leigh made her own in the classic 1951 film, Lange, 46, will act opposite Toby Stephens, son of Maggie Smith and of the late Sir Robert Stephens, as Stanley Kowalski.

Lange made her Broadway debut with the play in 1992, and the production was later made into a film. Since then she has received an Academy Award for Best Actress for her part in the film Blue Sky last year.

The new production is directed by Sir Peter Hall. Previews run from 18 December at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket.