The Goldfrapp singer-songwriter will compose the music for our next Shakespeare, directed by Eleanor Rhode.

Award-winning musician Will Gregory will be composing the music for our upcoming production of King John, playing in the Swan Theatre later this year as part of our winter season.

Will formed electronic pop group Goldfrapp in 1999 alongside bandmate Alison Goldfrapp, winning an Ivor Novello for single Strict Machine and receiving multiple Grammy nominations. He has also performed with artists including Tears for Fears and The Cure, and will be touring this year with The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble, a ten-piece orchestra of mono synths.

Will already has experience of writing music for the stage, having produced part of the score for the National Theatre of Scotland's 2016 James III trilogy, but this is his first time working on Shakespeare: “I think Shakespeare is still one of the most important voices across all the arts. His work has a musical dimension for me... Hopefully, the music will add a fourth dimension to the audience’s experience of watching King John… like an extra cast member that Shakespeare might have added, had he been familiar with a synthesiser!”

Will Gregory with headphones on, in front of a keyboard and laptop.
Will Gregory.

Additional casting has also been announced for the show, with Michael Abubakar appearing as Philip The Bastard, Brian Martin taking the role of Lewis, the Dauphin, and Sarah Agha in an as-yet-unnamed role. They join previously announced cast, including Rosie Sheehy as King John and RSC regular Tom McCall as Hubert. Visit the Cast and Creatives page to find out more about the team involved in the play.

King John will run in the Swan Theatre from 19 September 2019 - 21 March 2020.

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