Richard Armitage leads cast of The Crucible at the Old Vic

Richard Armitage will lead the cast of The Old Vic's new production of The Crucible by Arthur Miller which runs from 24 Jun to 13 Sep 2014.

Armitage will play the lead role of John Proctor, alongside Samantha Colley as Abigail Williams and Anna Madeley as Elizabeth Proctor. This new production will be directed by Yaël Farber and designed by Soutra Gilmour.

Richard Armitage is perhaps best known for his screen role as Thorin Oakenshield in the Hobbit trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson. He has also played villain Heinz Kruger in Captain America: The First Avenger, and will star in the upcoming disaster film 'Into the Storm'. His stage credits include 'The Duchess of Malfi' and 'Macbeth' for the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as 'Hamlet' for the Birmingham Rep.

Samantha Colley will make her professional stage debut playing Abigail Williams, after graduating this year from The Oxford School of Drama. Credits whilst training include 'Anna Karenina', 'The Taming of the Shrew' and 'Pride and Prejudice'.

Anna Madeley returns to the West End to play Elizabeth Proctor after recently starring in Richard Eyre's Broadway production of 'Private Lives' (Music Box Theater). London credits include 'Earthquakes in London' at the National Theatre and 'The Turn of the Screw' at the Almeida.

They will be joined by Sarah Niles, Rebecca Saire and Zara White.