Dominic West takes lead in new Jez Butterworth play

Dominic West rose to prominence for playing detective Jimmy McNulty in The Wire

Dominic West, famous for playing Jimmy McNulty in the hit US TV series The Wire, is to take the lead role in Jez Butterworth's new stage play.

The River, about a man and a woman in a remote cabin on a cliff, will also star Laura Donnelly and Miranda Raison.

The play will run at London's Royal Court from 18 October to 17 November.

Butterworth's last play, Jerusalem, enjoyed sell-out runs in the West End and on Broadway following its Royal Court debut in 2009.

Sheffield-born West appeared in critically acclaimed Baltimore crime drama The Wire between 2002 and 2008.

Earlier this year he won a Bafta for his portrayal of Fred West in the ITV1 drama Appropriate Adult.

The 42-year-old has starred in several plays in London's West End, including Life is a Dream at the Donmar Warehouse.

After The River he will head on to Sheffield to play Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at the Crucible theatre.

Donnelly's recent credits include Philadelphia Here I Come at the Donmar, while Raison played Jo Portman in the BBC drama Spooks.

The River brings together the same creative team that worked on Jerusalem, including director Ian Rickson and the designer Ultz.

Earlier this year the Royal Court announced that tickets for the production would not be released until the day of each performance.