RSC ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN AND THE ROVER
THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN
By William Shakespeare and John Fletcher
Directed by Blanche McIntyre
Swan Theatre, 17 August 2016 – 7 February 2017
Press night: Wednesday 24 August 2016, 7pm
THE ROVER
By Aphra Behn
Directed by Loveday Ingram
Swan Theatre: 8 September 2016 – 11 February 2017
Press night: Thursday 15 September 2016, 7pm
Casting is announced for The Two Noble Kinsmen and Aphra Behn’s The Rover, both being produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in celebration of the 30th birthday of the Swan Theatre. The plays were last performed in the Swan Theatre’s first season in 1986.
Blanche McIntyre (As You Like It, Shakespeare’s Globe 2015) teams up with designer Anna Fleischle (Olivier Award winner for best set design, Hangmen 2015) to direct The Two Noble Kinsmen, the 1634 tragi-comedy based on Chaucer’s A Knight’s Tale, attributed to William Shakespeare and John Fletcher.
James Corrigan (Othello, The Merchant of Venice, 2015) and Jamie Wilkes (Mr Selfrige, ITV, 2016; The Shoemaker’s Holiday, 2014) play best friends turned love-rivals Palamon and Arcite, in this production where chauvinist men are confronted by resilient women and love is a prize in a deadly game. Frances McNamee returns to the RSC (Love’s Labour’s Lost / Love’s Labour’s Won, 2014) to play Emilia, the woman whose affections Palamon and Arcite fight for.
The Rover, a play by the UK’s first professional female playwright, Aphra Behn is directed by Loveday Ingram, who joins forces with Olivier and Tony Award-winning designer, Lez Brotherston. This production takes place amid the fast and furious world of the South American carnival. Three wandering cavaliers roam in exile, whilst three women looking for love and fighting for a little freedom, explore this vibrant, frenzied, dizzying world.
Joseph Millson, who recently appeared as Major Ross in Jimmy McGovern’s 2015 BBC drama Banished, as well as The Last Kingdom (BBC, 2015) and Sky’s cult horror series Penny Dreadful in 2014, will play the rakish ‘rover’, Willmore. Faye Castelow, who recently appeared in The White Devil and The Roaring Girl, RSC, 2014, and Man and Superman, at the National Theatre, 2015, plays the object of his affections, Hellena, a young woman experiencing as much of life as possible before becoming a nun.
RSC Associate Artist Alexandra Gilbreath plays the famous courtesan Angelica. Alexandra most recently appeared on the RSC stage in Shakespeare Live! from the RSC, broadcast on BBC Two in April. Frances McNamee plays Florinda, while Patrick Robinson, perhaps best known for his role as Martin ‘Ash’ Ashford in Casualty (1990 – 2014), plays her lover Colonel Belville.
The full cast for The Two Noble Kinsmen includes: Joe Allen (Fighter), Sally Bankes (Schoolmistress), Ashley Campbell (Boss), James Corrigan (Palamon), Leander Deeny (Host/Doctor), Chris Jack (Pirithous) Lena Kaur (The Lady), Patrick Knowles (Wooer), Leon Lopez (The Trickster), Paul McEwan (Jailer), Allison McKenzie (Hippolyta), Frances McNamee (Emilia), Emma Noakes (Hecate), Danusia Samal (Jailer’s daughter), Gyuri Sarossy (Theseus), Eloise Secker (Diana), Kellie Shirley (Venus), and Jamie Wilkes (Arcite).
The full cast for The Rover includes: Joe Allen (Stephano), Sally Bankes (Callis), Ashley Campbell (Phillipo), Faye Castelow (Hellena), Leander Deeny (Blunt), Alexandra Gilbreath (Angelica), Chris Jack (Sancho), Lena Kaur (Adriana), Patrick Knowles (Babion), Leon Lopez (Biskey), Allison McKenzie (Moretta), Frances McNamee (Florinda), Joseph Millson (Willmore), Emma Noakes (Valeria), Patrick Robinson (Belvile), Danusia Samal (Astrea), Gyuri Sarossy (Don Pedro), Eloise Secker (Aminta), Kellie Shirley (Lucetta), and Jamie Wilkes (Don Antonio).
The Two Noble Kinsmen is directed by Blanche McIntyre and designed by Anna Fleichle with lighting by Charles Balfour. Sound is by Gregory Clarke and movement by Alistair David. The Fight Director is Kate Waters.
The Rover is directed by Loveday Ingram and designed by Lez Brotherston with lighting by Tim Lutkin. Music is by Grant Olding, sound by Fergus O’Hare and movement by Nicola Treherne. The Fight Director is Terry King.
Notes to Editors
For further information, please contact philippa.harland@rsc.org.uk 0207 845 0512 or amy.belson@rsc.org.uk 01789 412622.
For press tickets please contact dean.asker@rsc.org.uk 01789 412660
To book tickets call 01789 403493 or online at www.rsc.org.uk
Follow the celebrations of the Swan Theatre's 30th anniversary on social media via the hashtag #RSCSwan30. To catch up with the latest social media news regarding The Two Noble Kinsmen and The Rover, see #RSCKinsmen and #RSCRover.
The RSC Ensemble is generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION
BP £5 tickets and BP Shakespeare Pass for 16-25s
The BP £5 tickets and BP Shakespeare Pass for 16 – 25 year olds gives access to £5 tickets for all RSC productions whether we are performing in Stratford-upon-Avon, London or on tour. The pass enables 16-25 year olds to see five shows in Stratford-upon-Avon for £20 – the cheapest way to enjoy shows at the RSC. Tickets can be booked in advance on the phone, online or in person with some available for sale on the day of the performance. The scheme is supported by Project Partner, BP.
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