Costigan is starring as Willy Loman in the Arthur Miller classic which also marks the return to the main stage in York of director Damian Cruden, following the success of his Railway Children adaptation.

Behind its white picket fence, Willy Loman's home is packed with secrets and lies. His head is teeming with ghosts and, for some reason, he keeps driving his car off the road.

Yet, with his two sons and his wife together in the house for the first time in years, he is filled with optimistic joy, even as he mutters and stumbles towards his final, terrible journey.

Costigan's screen roles range from the adulterous Bob, in Rita, Sue and Bob Too – largely filmed on the Buttershaw Estate in Bradford – to the murderous husband in The Hawk. Other appearances include Shirley Valentine, and Calendar Girls.

He has a long history in TV including playing corrupt cop George Mooney in the Long Firm and starring alongside Kylie Minogue in the Doctor Who Voyage of the Damned Christmas special.

Mr Cruden said: "The play is the salesman's play and I was not prepared to programme it before I had the central role cast. George Costigan is one of our great actors, and his work on stage, television and screen are without exception wonderful.

"It is also diverse. George has the experience, determination and commitment required for this most demanding of roles. I am looking forward to discovering this most marvellous of plays with George and the rest of the company."

Running in York from October 31 to November 29, Death of a Salesman was written in 1949 and ran to 742 Broadway performances.