The first week of performances of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire at the Almeida Theatre have been cancelled as Lydia Wilson has been forced to withdraw from the production due to health reasons.

Wilson has been replaced by Patsy Ferran (Summer and Smoke, Almeida) who will now play Blanche DuBois, alongside Paul Mescal as Stanley and Anjana Vasan as Stella.

When Blanche unexpectedly visits her estranged sister Stella, she brings with her a past that will threaten their future. As Stella’s husband Stanley stalks closer to the truth, Blanche's fragile world begins to fracture. Reality and illusion collide and a violent conflict changes their lives forever.

Directed by Rebecca Frecknall, performances will now start on 17 December, with further information here.