FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR RSC’S THE CONSTANT WIFE
DATE RELEASED: 20 MAY 2025
KATE BURTON (GREY’S ANATOMY, SCANDAL) JOINS ROSE LESLIE IN MAKING RSC DEBUT AS MRS CULVER IN THE CONSTANT WIFE BY LAURA WADE, BASED ON W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM’S ORIGINAL 1926 PLAY, TWO DECADES AFTER TONY-NOMINATED PERFORMANCE AS CONSTANCE ON BROADWAY
AMY MORGAN AND EMMA MCDONALD ALSO MAKE RSC DEBUTS AS MARTHA CULVER AND MARIE-LOUISE DURHAM
RETURNING TO THE RSC ARE LUKE NORRIS (POLDARK), RAJ BAJAJ (THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA), MARK MEADOWS (THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT) AND DANIEL MILLAR (TWELFTH NIGHT)
The Constant Wife by Laura Wade
Based on the play by W. Somerset Maugham
Directed by Tamara Harvey
Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Friday 20 June – Saturday 2 August
Press Night: Tuesday 1 July at 7pm
BOX OFFICE: rsc.org.uk, 01789 331111
DOWNLOAD FIRST DAY OF REHEARSAL IMAGES HERE
DOWNLOAD HEADSHOTS AND POSTER ARTWORK HERE
As rehearsals begin, full casting is announced for the RSC’s new version of The Constant Wife by Laura Wade, based on the 1926 play by W. Somerset Maugham.
The production is directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey and will run in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon between Friday 20 June – Saturday 2 August 2025 with press night on Tuesday 1 July.
As previously announced, Rose Leslie makes her RSC debut in the role of Constance Middleton. Rose is best known for her work on screen including the recent hit BBC series Miss Austen, Vigil and the multi-award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones. Other screen credits include: The Time Traveller’s Wife, The Good Fight, Luther, The Great Fire, Blandings, Utopia, Vera, Case Histories, Downton Abbey and New Town. Rose’s previous theatre credits include Contractions (Sheffield Crucible) and Bedlam (Globe Theatre).
Joining Rose is Kate Burton who will play Mrs Culver, Constance’s mother. Kate is best known for her recurring roles in multi-award-winning TV series Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. On stage, Kate played Constance in the 2005 production of The Constant Wife on Broadway, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Other Broadway credits include Present Laughter (St James Theatre), Spring Awakening (Eugene O’Neil), The Elephant Man (Royale) and Hedda Gabler (Ambassador). In the UK, Kate’s theatre credits include Three Sisters (The Playhouse) and the UK/Ireland tour of The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Other television credits include Inventing Anna, The Dropout, Bosch Legacy, Ransom Canyon, The Beast in Me and The First Lady.
Raj Bajaj will play Bernard Kersal. Raj’s previous RSC credits include The Buddha of Suburbia, The Empress, Tartuffe, Tamburlaine and Much Ado About Nothing. Other theatre includes Tupperware Of Ashes, Treasure Island (National Theatre), The Empress (Lyric Hammersmith), Tartuffe (Birmingham Rep), Wildfire Road (Sheffield Crucible) and Hobson’s Choice (Royal Exchange, Manchester). His TV credits include Casualty, Midsomer Murders, The Offenders, Killing Eve, Doctor Who and Doctors.
Emma McDonald will make her RSC debut as Marie-Louise Durham. Other theatre includes: Foreverland (Southwark Playhouse), Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night (Watermill Theatre, UK Tour and International Tour), The Sweet Science of Bruising (Wilton’s Musical Hall) and Pride and Prejudice (Sheffield Crucible Theatre). Her film credits include The Picture of Dorian Gray which was a co-production of Barn Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, New Wolsey Theatre, Theatre Clwyd and Lawrence Batley Theatre. Television credits include The Serpent Queen, Moonhaven, The Chelsea Detective and Queens of Mystery.
Mark Meadows will play Bentley. He was previously seen at the RSC in The Magician’s Elephant. Other theatre includes Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Theatre Royal Bath), The Secret Life of Bees, The House of Shades (Almeida Theatre), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Tartuffe (Tobacco Factory Theatres), A Woman of No Importance (Classic Spring UK tour), Orpheus Descending (Menier Chocolate Factory), Flowers for Mrs Harris (Sheffield Theatres/Chichester Festival Theatre) and Quiz (Minerva Theatre/ Chichester Festival Theatre/West End). Film credits include Mr. Burton, Nicholas Nickleby, High Heels & Lowlifes, Letters from Baghdad and TV credits include McDonald and Dodds, Kiri, EastEnders, Casualty and Doctors.
Daniel Millar will play Mortimer Durham. His previous RSC credits include Twelfth Night, The Winter’s Tale. Other theatre includes: The Play That Goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre, West End), The Pillowman (Duke of York’s, West End), Antony & Cleopatra, Measure for Measure (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Government Inspector (Marylebone Theatre), House of Shades (Almeida), King Lear, Edward II, Frankenstein, The White Guard, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (National Theatre), The Wonderful World of Dissocia (Theatre Royal Stratford East), The Winston Machine, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Kandinsky/Royal Exchange Theatre) and Against Captain’s Orders, The Crash of the Elysium, The Black Diamond, The Night Chauffeur and The Drowned Man (Punchdrunk). TV credits include Casualty, London Kills, Britannia, Warren and Trying Again. Film credits include Downton Abbey and The Current War. Daniel is a co-founder of Admada Theatre, specialising in immersive productions for young audiences.
Amy Morgan will make her RSC debut as Martha. Previous theatre includes Dear Octopus, Exit The King, The Beaux Stratagem (National Theatre), A Kind of People (Royal Court), Noises Off (Lyric Hammersmith), Touch (Soho Theatre), Travesties (Apollo Theatre and Menier Chocolate Factory), Red Velvet (Kenneth Branagh Company), The Broken Heart (Sam Wanamaker at The Globe) and An Ideal Husband (Chichester Festival Theatre). TV credits include Beyond Paradise, Death Valley, Playing Nice, The Cleaner, Steeltown Murders, Marriage and Call the Midwife. Film credits include We Live in Time and No Time To Die.
Luke Norris will play John Middleton. Luke’s previous RSC credits include Hamlet, As You Like It, God’s Weep, Days of Significance. Other theatre includes The Motive and the Cue, The Normal Heart, Antigone, The Kitchen, The Habit of Art, War Horse (National Theatre), Blue/Orange, A View From The Bridge, Nora: A Doll’s House (Young Vic), Orpheus Descending (Royal Exchange, Manchester), Filumena (Almeida Theatre), Remembrance Day (Royal Court), Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat (Paines Plough) and White Boy (Soho Theatre). Luke is best known on screen for the role of Dr Dwight Enys in Poldark. Other TV credits include Strike: The Ink Black Heart, Babies, Our World War also for the BBC.
Also making their RSC debuts off-stage understudies are Connor Going and Jess Nesling. Connor’s previous credits include Noises Off, The Wind in the Willows and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical for Pitlochry Festival Theatre and he featured in the original cast for The Choir of Man for the USA and Australia tour. Jess was last seen on stage in Henry V at the Donmar Warehouse and was previously in Blithe Spirit and The Winter's Tale for Changeling Theatre.
RSC Co-Artistic Director and Director of The Constant Wife, Tamara Harvey said: ““I am so excited to welcome our company for The Constant Wife to the rehearsal room, bringing together internationally renowned talent, new voices making their RSC debuts, as well as some familiar faces.
We are thrilled to welcome Kate Burton, who received a Tony Award nomination for her portrayal of Constance on Broadway in 2005, and who now returns to the play as Constance’s mother Mrs. Culver. I can’t wait to discover what her experience of the play will bring to the room. Joining Kate and Rose in their RSC debuts are Amy Morgan and Emma McDonald. We are also delighted to welcome back familiar faces, including Raj Bajaj, who starred in our acclaimed production of The Buddha of Suburbia last year, as well as Mark Meadows, Daniel Millar, and Luke Norris. Thanks to the RSC’s flexible working practices, many members of our acting company are also parents, and we feel privileged that they have chosen to join us.”
The full company comprises: Raj Bajaj (Bernard Kersal), Kate Burton (Mrs Culver), Connor Going (Off-stage understudy), Rose Leslie (Constance Middleton), Emma McDonald (Marie-Louise Durham), Mark Meadows (Bentley), Daniel Millar (Mortimer Durham), Amy Morgan (Martha), Jess Nesling (Off-stage understudy) and Luke Norris (John Middleton).
Joining Wade and Harvey on the creative team are Set and Co-Costume Designer, Anna Fleischle; Co-Costume Designer Cat Fuller; Lighting Designer, Ryan Day; Composer Jamie Cullum; Sound Designer, Claire Windsor; Movement and Intimacy Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster and Casting Director, Charlotte Sutton CDG.
This production is commissioned by and presented in association with David Pugh Limited.
For more press information please contact:
Bethany Arnold, Senior Publicist
bethany.arnold@rsc.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
LISTINGS INFORMATION
THE CONSTANT WIFE
by Laura Wade
Based on the play by W. Somerset Maugham
Swan Theatre
Friday 20 June – Saturday 2 August
Press Night: Tuesday 1 July at 7pm
Tickets from £10
RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey and playwright Laura Wade reunite after their Olivier Award-winning collaboration, Home, I’m Darling, to reimagine W. Somerset Maugham’s subversive comedy, The Constant Wife, in a sparkling new version.
Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, Vigil) plays Constance, a 1920s heroine with a decidedly modern spirit.
Audio Described performance: Saturday 12th July, 1.30pm and Friday 1st August, 7.30pm
Chilled performance: Wednesday 16th July, 1.30pm
Captioned performance: Thursday 17th July, 7.30pm and Wednesday 23rd July, 1.30pm
Chilled and Handheld Captioned performance: Saturday 2nd August, 1.30pm
Creative Team Talk: Monday 30th June, 5.15pm
Post Show Talk: Tuesday 29th July
NOTES TO EDITORS
The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
The RSC is generously supported by RSC America
The work of the RSC is supported by the Culture Recovery Fund
With thanks to Season Supporter Charles Holloway OBE
RSC £10 Tickets for 14-25s supported by TikTok
The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
New Work at the RSC is generously supported by Hawthornden Foundation and The Drue and H.J. Heinz II Charitable Trust.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)’s mission is to bring people together to experience stories that deepen our understanding of ourselves, each other and the world around us, and that bring joy. Shakespeare’s restless exploration of all of human nature is our inspiration and touchstone. The company’s roots lie in the bold vision of a local brewer, Edward Fordham Flower, who in 1879 established a theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon with his son Charles. The RSC as we know it today was formed by Sir Peter Hall, whose ambition was to produce new plays alongside those of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. We continue this today across our three permanent theatres in Stratford – the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre and The Other Place – and indeed online and around the globe. We believe everybody’s life can be enriched by culture and creativity. Our transformative Creative Learning and Engagement programmes reach over half a million young people and adults each year. We have collaborated with generations of the very best theatre makers and we continue to nurture the talent of the future.
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