CASTING has been confirmed for The Exorcist ahead of its Theatre Royal run this month.

BAFTA Award Winner, Paul Nicholas will play Father Merin, TV star Sophie Ward takes on the role of Chris MacNeil while Ben Caplan will portray Father Damien.

Paul Nicholas is most recognised for playing Vince Pinner in the celebrated British sitcom Just Good Friends. Sophie is best known for her roles in Holby City and Heartbeat and Ben became a household name after appearing in for his time as Call the Midwife as Sergeant Peter Noakes.

Inspired by true events, The Exorcist, is based on the best-selling novel by William Peter Blatty and has been adapted for stage by John Pielmeier. It is directed by Sean Mathias (Waiting for Godot, No Man’s Land) and features the voice of Ian McKellen as the Demon.

When the medical profession fails to provide answers to young Regan’s strange symptoms, her desperate mother Chris turns to a local priest for help. But before Father Damien can tackle what’s before him, he must overcome his own shaken beliefs, as this fight is for more than just one girl’s soul.

Widely considered the scariest movie of all time, the film adaptation of The Exorcist sparked unprecedented worldwide controversy when it was released in cinemas in 1973.

Winner of two Academy Awards, William Friedkin’s masterpiece saw audiences petrified to the point of passing out and went on to become one of the top ten highest-grossing films of all time.

Now, 45 years after its release, fans of the film and theatre alike get to experience a visually astounding, intelligent and thrilling theatrical experience.

The show will run at the theatre from Tuesday to Saturday, September 17 to 21.