‘Downton Abbey’ star returns to London stage this summer in ‘Apologia’

Laura Carmichael has joined the cast of a new theatre production of Apologia.

The 30-year-old English actress, who played Lady Edith Crawley in all six seasons of Downton Abbey, will take the role of a “firebrand liberal matriarch and eminent art historian” in the play.

Alexi Kaye Campbell’s darkly funny and haunting play about family and its secrets will run from Saturday July 29 to Saturday November 18 at London’s Trafalgar Studios.

Directed by Jamie Lloyd, following his acclaimed productions of Macbeth starring James McAvoy and Richard III starring Sherlock actor Martin Freeman, Apologia also stars Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who), Stockard Channing (The West Wing), Joseph Millson (The Last Kingdom) and Olivier Award winner Desmond Barrit.

Laura Carmichael, who previously worked with director Jamie Lloyd in his adaptation of Jean Genet’s psychological thriller The Maids, commented: “I’m thrilled to be joining this wonderfully talented cast of Apologia.

“Alexi Kaye Campbell’s play deeply moved me, as well as making me laugh; it really took me through every emotion, so I think audiences will be in for a treat. I know what a brilliant experience it is to have Jamie Lloyd as a director, so I’m delighted to be working with him again, and to be returning to Trafalgar Studios.”

Tickets are available now, priced from £15, at atgtickets.com/trafalgarstudios and on 0844 871 7632.

The official synopsis for Apologia reads: “A birthday gathering should be a cause for celebration but the cracks in her family relationships are brought to the surface by the recent publication of her memoir. As the darkly funny evening progresses, secrets emerge about the sacrifices she has made and about the price paid by those she loves.”

It was officially confirmed last week that the long-awaited Downton Abbey movie will begin filming next year.