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Kinnear Gets Measure of Martin & Miles at Almeida

Before he gives us his Hamlet at the National in late 2010 (See News, 22 Sep 2009), Rory Kinnear will be flexing his Shakespeare muscles on stage at the Almeida Theatre, in artistic director Michael Attenborough’s long-planned production of the bard’s dark comedy Measure for Measure (See News, 14 Oct 2008), which will run from 18 February to 10 April 2010 (previews from 11 February).

Kinnear, playing the corruptible politician Angelo, will be joined in a stellar cast by Anna Maxwell Martin as Isabella, a novice nun and desperate sister of a condemned man who he tries to seduce, and Ben Miles as the Duke of Vienna, who disguises himself to expose his once-trusted deputy Angelo.

Measure for Measure is Attenborough’s first Shakespeare production at the Almeida, though prior to taking over the London theatre, he was a principal associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he helmed productions of Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Antony and Cleopatra and Henry IV parts I and II, amongst others.

Rory Kinnear’s previous Shakespeare credits include The Taming of the Shrew at the RSC and playing Laertes in Trevor Nunn’s Hamlet at the Old Vic. At the National, he’s also starred in Burnt by the Sun, The Revenger’s Tragedy, Philistines, Southwark Fair and The Man of Mode, for which he won Olivier and Ian Charleson Awards.

Anna Maxwell Martin’s stage credits include The Female of the Species, Cabaret, His Dark Materials, Three Sisters, Honour, The Coast of Utopia, Little Foxes and Dumb Show. On screen, her credits include Bleak House, Freefall, Poppy Shakespeare, Becoming Jane and Enduring Love.

Ben Miles has just returned from Broadway success with the Old Vic transfer of Alan Ayckbourn trilogy The Norman Conquests. His many other credits include Richard II, My Child, Macbeth, Mary Stuart, The London Cuckolds and The Cherry Orchard on stage; and Coupling, Lark Rise to Candleford, A Thing Called Love, Hustle, Spin, Prime Suspect and Cold Feet on screen.

Measure for Measure is designed by Lez Brotherston, with lighting by David Hersey, music by Stephen Warbeck, sound by John Leonard and movement by Imogen Knight.

- by Terri Paddock

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