Sheridan Smith will take on one of Ibsen's heroines and Trevor Nunn returns to the American musical in the autumn and winter season at the Old Vic.
Anna Mackmin will direct Sheridan Smith as Ibsen's Hedda Gabler in an adaptation by Brian Friel, opening on 12 September. Also appearing in the cast will be Buffy Davis, Anne Reid, Adrian Scarborough and Fenella Woolgar.
In a co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre, Trevor Nunn will direct Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate with choreography by Stephen Mear. With a cast including Alex Bourne, David Burt, Adam Garcia, Clive Rowe and Hannah Waddingham, it will open in Chichester on 27 June and at The Old Vic on 3 December.
Artistic director Kevin Spacey said, "I am particularly pleased to unveil our production of Hedda Gabler, such an iconic and impactful play, with Sheridan Smith in the lead. Sheridan is a wonderful actress who has rightly received acclaim for her recent work and I am sure audiences will be intrigued to see her tackle this role."
The production of Michael Frayn's Democracy, which opens on 20 June has now been extended by two weeks to close on 28 July.
It has also been announced that director Rob Ashford will join The Old Vic as an associate director, joining existing associates Edward Hall, David Liddiment, Anthony Page, Thea Sharrock and Matthew Warchus.