Full cast announced for Double Indemnity, starring Mischa Barton

The thrilling new stage adaptation of one of the greatest crime novels of the 20th century will embark on a UK tour from 5 February. The O.C. star Mischa Barton will make her stage debut as the ultimate femme fatale in James M. Cain’s bold and seductive drama.

The cast will include Ciarán Owens as Walter Huff, Martin Marquez as Keyes, Gillian Saker as Nettie, Waitress and Usher (as well as understudying the role of Phyllis Nirdlinger). The roles of Mr. Norton, Nino, and Joe Pete will be played by Joseph Langdon. Mr. Nirdlinger, Jack Christholf, & Jackson will be played by Oliver Ryan, and Lola Nirdlinger will be played by Sophia Roberts. Ensemble members include Simon Victor, Estelle Cousins, and Patrick Fleming who also understudy roles on the tour.

Adapted for the stage by Tom Holloway and directed by Oscar Toeman, Double Indemnity is set in Los Angeles amidst the wreckage of the Great Depression. At the centre is Walter Huff, a sharp-eyed insurance salesman who has built his career spotting scams. But when he meets the dangerously seductive Phyllis Nirdlinger (Barton) to discuss her husband’s life insurance policy, he is drawn into a web of lust, greed, and betrayal.

Together, they plot the perfect crime: murder the husband, cash in the policy, and vanish into the Californian sunset. But passion clouds judgment, and guilt corrodes even the most perfect of plans. As their conspiracy unravels and mistrust festers, Walter and Phyllis find themselves battling not only the law but each other.

Double Indemnity brings together the glamour and danger of old Hollywood with the tension and allure of classic noir storytelling. A must-see event that will immerse audiences in a world of danger, desire and double-crossing hearts.

Double Indemnity tours the UK from 5 February to 9 May 2026.