The star of Lost, Matthew Fox, is causing quite a stir ahead of his London stage debut in the world premiere of Neil LaBute’s latest play - In a Forest Dark and Deep - which opens in the spring of 2011. Fox - who rose to fame in the TV teen drama Party of Five before taking the role of Dr. Jack Shephard in the popular sci-fi adventure series - will play the lead role of ‘Bobby’ in the stormy psychological thriller at the West End’s Vaudeville Theatre; appearing opposite British actress Olivia Williams.

Speaking just before rehearsals got underway, Fox revealed he had not made a conscious decision to return to theatre: “I want to get involved in stories that speak to me and this one happened to be a play and in the West End of London.”

He also explained: “The beautiful thing about (theatre) storytelling is that you put these elements together, starting with the script and everybody who comes to it, and just hope that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts because that’s when it really sings, and I feel like that’s going to happen on this.”

A Comic Thriller at the Vaudeville Theatre

Co-star Olivia Williams said: “Neil LaBute’s plays are known to be intense and passionate. This play is all these things, but it’s also got a great classic thriller quality to it, and something a little bit surreal.”

In a Forest Dark and Deep is set on a stormy night when Bobby and his sister Betty meet at an isolated cabin in the woods to clear it out for rental. The story is best described as a dark comic thriller about family dysfunction and betrayal. As the truth refuses to be packed away, Bobby must decide if he really wants to uncover the dark secrets that his sister is hiding.

In a Forest Dark and Deep begins previews at the Vaudeville Theatre on 03 March 2011 and is currently booking until 04 June 2011.