Theatre News

Casting announced for RSC's The Two Noble Kinsmen and The Rover

The productions are being staged as part of celebrations for the Swan Theatre’s 30th birthday

Blanche McIntyre will direct The Two Noble Kinsmen whilst Loveday Ingram will direct The Rover
Blanche McIntyre will direct The Two Noble Kinsmen whilst Loveday Ingram will direct The Rover
© Dominic Parkes

The RSC have announced casting for The Two Noble Kinsmen and The Rover, both of which will open at the Swan Theatre later this year.

Both productions will run at the theatre in celebration of the Swan's 30th birthday. The plays were last performed as part of the Swan's first season in 1986.

Blanche McIntyre's production of The Two Noble Kinsmen will star James Corrigan (Othello, The Merchant of Venice) and Jamie Wilkes (Mr Selfridge, ITV) as best friends turned love-rivals Palamon and Arcite. Frances McNamee returns to the RSC (Love’s Labour’s Lost/Love’s Labour’s Won) to play Emilia, the woman whose affections Palamon and Arcite fight for.

The full cast includes Joe Allen (Fighter), Sally Bankes (Schoolmistress), Ashley Campbell (Boss), Leander Deeny (Host/Doctor), Lena Kaur (The Lady), Patrick Knowles (Wooer), Leon Lopez (The Trickster), Paul McEwan (Jailer), Allison McKenzie (Hippolyta), Emma Noakes (Hecate), Danusia Samal (Jailer’s daughter), Gyuri Sarossy (Theseus), Eloise Secker (Diana) and Kellie Shirley (Venus).

William Shakespeare and John Fletcher's 1634 tragi-comedy based on Chaucer's A Knight’s Tale will run at the theatre from 24 August 2016 to 7 February 2017, and will feature design from Olivier Award-winner Anna Fleischle.

Leading the cast of The Rover will be Joseph Millson (Banished, BBC, The Last Kingdom BBC) as Willmore and Faye Castelow (The Roaring Girl, RSC, Man and Superman, National Theatre) as Hellena.

Alexandra Gilbreath (Shakespeare Live! from the RSC) will play the courtesan, Angelica, alongside Frances McNamee as Florinda and Patrick Robinson (Casualty) as Colonel Belville.

The full cast includes Joe Allen (Stephano), Sally Bankes (Callis), Ashley Campbell (Phillipo), Leander Deeny (Blunt), Lena Kaur (Adriana), Patrick Knowles (Babion), Leon Lopez (Biskey), Allison McKenzie (Moretta), Emma Noakes (Valeria), Danusia Samal (Astrea), Gyuri Sarossy (Don Pedro), Eloise Secker (Aminta), Kellie Shirley (Lucetta), and Jamie Wilkes (Don Antonio).

Directed by Loveday Ingram, The Rover was written by Aphra Behn, the UK's first professional female playwright. Set in South America, the play follows the escapades of three wandering cavaliers. Featuring design from Olivier and Tony Award-winning designer Lez Brotherston, The Rover will run at the Swan from 15 September 2016 to 11 February 2017.