Theatre News

Full casting announced for King Lear with Ian McKellen

Chichester Festival Theatre has announced who will join the production in September

© Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

Full casting has been announced for Jonathan Munby's production of King Lear, which opens at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester in September.

Joining the previously announced Ian McKellen – who stars in the title role – is Sinéad Cusack (Splendour, Donmar Warehouse) as Kent, Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, American Psycho) will take on the role of Edgar. Damien Molony, who performed alongside McKellen in last year's No Man's Land, will play Edmund.

Further casting includes Dervla Kirwan (The Weir, Donmar and West End) as Goneril, Kirsty Bushell (Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's Globe) as Regan, Tamara Lawrance (Twelfth Night, NT) as Cordelia, Phil Daniels (Les Miserables, EastEnders) as Fool and Patrick Robinson (Casualty) as Cornwall.

The rest of the cast is composed of Richard Clews (Old Man/Gentleman Informer), John Hastings (Curan/Doctor), Dominic Mafham (Albany), Jake Mann (Burgundy), Michael Matus (Oswald), Caleb Roberts (King of France) and Danny Webb (Gloucester).

Munby's previous directorial credits include the acclaimed production of First Light for Festival 2016. His work for Shakespeare’s Globe includes All the Angels, The Merchant of Venice and Antony and Cleopatra; his recent work for the RSC includes Wendy & Peter Pan.

King Lear will be designed by Paul Wills, with lighting by Oliver Fenwick, music and sound by Ben and Max Ringham, movement by Lucy Cullingford and fight direction by Kate Waters.

King Lear runs at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester from 29 September to 28 October, with previews from 22 September.