Theatre News

Lenny Henry Makes NT Debut in Cooke’s Comedy

Lenny Henry will make his National Theatre debut in Dominic Cooke’s The Comedy of Errors which opens in the NT Olivier in November. Cooke who is artistic director of the Royal Court, also makes his National debut with the production.

Best known as a comedian, Henry won the Outstanding Newcomer prize at the Evening Standard Awards making his West End debut in Northern Broadsides’ production of Othello. That show played an extended run at Trafalgar Studios from September to December 2009 having transferred from West Yorkshire Playhouse.

The production will be Cooke’s first new Shakespeare production since taking over at the Royal Court in 2007, after serving for several years as an associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Also announced for the production’s cast was Chris Jarman, who created the role of Shank in the West End production of Sister Act. His other stage credits include Antony And Cleopatra, The Tempest and Julius Caesar for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The National Theatre’s Christmas production, artistic director Nicholas Hytner hopes The Comedy of Errors will attract a family audience.