Lily Allen is set to take on the role as Hedda Gabler in a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play this summer at Theatre Royal Bath’s Ustinov Studio.

Directed by Matthew Dunster, Lily is the first to star in the new re-imagined show.

Lily, 40, who split from husband David Harbout late last year, will return to the stage July 25 until August 23 thanks to the success of 2:22 A Ghost Story and The Pillowman.

It’s the role described as ‘the hoop through which every actress with her eye on greatness must jump.’

Ingrid Bergman, Peggy Ashcroft, Maggie Smith, Diana Rigg, Cate Blanchett, Glenda Jackson and Rosamund Pike have all played Ibsen’s manipulative, tragic heroine Hedda.

It will be only her third stage role, following a well-received stint in 2:22 A Ghost Story — in which she was directed by Dunster — and a slightly less well-received ­performance in Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman. 

Lily Allen, 40, is set to take on the role as Hedda Gabler in a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play this summer at Theatre Royal Bath’s Ustinov Studio

Adapted and directed by Matthew Dunster, Lily is the first to star in the new re-imagined show

She told DailyMail’s Alison Boshoff last year: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to be given the chance of playing Hedda Gabler. 

‘I adore ­working with Matthew Dunster and can’t wait to explore this piece with him. 

‘I’m very excited to bring her to Bath next summer, in the intimacy of the Ustinov studio, it’s going to be great.’

Matthew added: ‘Lily and I were talking about women we knew that were trapped in relationships where men had all the power, and how these 21st century women were still being controlled and destroyed.

‘The conversation turned to plays where we could explore those ideas. We thought of Hedda Gabler and the connections were obvious, exciting and devastating. 

‘I relish watching Lily challenge herself, she pushes me, and I really value our ongoing ­collaboration. 

‘We want to offer up a Hedda that is absolutely for now.’

Lily snagged an Olivier Award nomination for 2:22 A Ghost Story. 

Lily will return to the stage July 25 until August 23 thanks to the success of 2:22 A Ghost Story and The Pillowman

Glenda Jackson and Ingrid Bergman have both played Ibsen’s manipulative, tragic heroine Hedda Gabler

Sheridan Smith played Hedda Gabler opposite Adrian Scarborough

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Before then she had a small role as actress Elizabeth Taylor in the 2020 film How To Build A Girl, which was produced by her mother, Alison Owen, and based on the book by Caitlin Moran. 

She was also in the comedy series Margate.

Lily enrolled in drama school in New York in 2023 and remarked that it was the first time she had studied since leaving school aged 15.

She added that live theatre was: ‘utterly terrifying; I don’t think I’ve ever been more scared than before the opening nights’.