Despite a clutch of high profile television and film credits to her name, including 'Nurse Jackie' and 'The King's Speech', it is on the stage that Eve Best has enjoyed most success.

The Londoner won an Olivier Award for her turn as 'Hedda Gabler' and picked up a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play for her role in 'A Moon for the Misbegotten' after it had transferred to Broadway following a successful London run at The Old Vic.

She starred opposite Kevin Spacey in 'A Moon for the Misbegotten'. Spacey is the artistic director at The Old Vic and it is to the South Bank theatre she returns to lead a new production of John Webster's macabre Jacobean tragedy, The Duchess of Malfi, directed by Jamie Lloyd.

The play, loosely based on real events that took place around 100 years before the 1613 premiere, centres on the experiences of the eponymous Duchess, who marries beneath her, and deals with issues of sexism, revenge, the abuse of power and the status of women in a patriarchal society.

All are themes that continue to resonate with modern audiences, and, for The Duchess of Malfi, all culminate in a particularly violent, bloody climax.

Previews of The Duchess of Malfi at the Old Vic begin on 17th March, with a full opening on 28th March, running until 9th June 2012. The run includes matinée performances on Saturdays and, after the 28th March, both Saturdays and Wednesdays.

We have tickets available now, priced from £15 to £44.50 for previews and from £15 to £75 for performances after 28th March.