Rosie Sheehy, a rising star in the UK theatre scene, is preparing for what she describes as one of her most challenging roles yet in Simon Stone’s new adaptation of Aeschylus’s ancient tragedy, *The Oresteia*. The production is set to preview at London’s Bridge Theatre in early July and will run through mid-September.
Originally on track to become a dentist, Sheehy shifted career paths after discovering her passion for acting. Over recent years, she has garnered critical acclaim and two Olivier Award nominations: first for her lead role in *Machinal* at the Old Vic in 2025, and later for *Guess How Much I Love You?* at the Royal Court Theatre earlier this year. Known for blending humor with emotional intensity and physicality, Sheehy faces a new level of uncertainty in Stone’s production, where the script remains fluid and the creative process highly experimental.
In this reimagining of *The Oresteia*, Sheehy plays a character named Alice, a modern counterpart to Electra, a woman weighed down by grief and caught in a fraught family psychodrama. The director Simon Stone, noted for his unconventional methods, often rewrites the play during rehearsals, keeping actors in a state of suspense about their characters’ fates. Sheehy admits to experiencing "low-level panic" as she navigates this uncharted territory, uncertain even if her character survives the story. Stone’s approach aims to dissolve the boundary between actor and character, seeking raw immediacy and relevance from classical material.
Stone’s *Oresteia* taps into contemporary themes such as intergenerational conflict, male violence, and fractured social consensus, echoing the original’s exploration of a dysfunctional family. Sheehy compares the play’s tone to Arthur Miller’s *All My Sons*, highlighting its engagement with the demands for justice and revenge within a modern setting. Alice’s role as a schoolteacher living in the shadow of her twin sister adds layers of psychological complexity, with Sheehy describing her as “eternally grieving” and burdened by mourning.
Sheehy’s Welsh hometown of Port Talbot, famed for producing actors like Richard Burton and Michael Sheen, played a formative role in her artistic development. Inspired by Sheen’s path from local theatre to RADA, Sheehy trained alongside him at West Glamorgan Youth Theatre before attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Her early experiences with intensive rehearsal schedules prepared her for the demands of professional theatre.
Her previous performance in *Guess How Much I Love You?*, a somber play about a difficult parental decision, demonstrated her ability to connect deeply with audiences. The production experienced multiple emotional interruptions during performances, underscoring the powerful effect of theatre dealing with traumatic subjects. Sheehy views such work as vital and cathartic, describing the intimate theatre environment where audience members openly expressed their gratitude and personal connection to the themes.
Though she is drawn to intense, sometimes harrowing roles, Sheehy acknowledges the toll they take and occasionally contemplates a shift in tone, expressing interest in performing comedy or classical writers like Noël Coward.
*The Oresteia* is scheduled to run from July 2 to September 19 at the Bridge Theatre in London.