Cast: Lindo Joins Joe Turner, Donmar’s Classes

Lindo, who was part of the play’s original Broadway cast in 1988, has stepped in to replace Roger Robinson, and joins a cast including Adjoa Andoh, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Petra Letang and Danny Sapani.

The play, an account of a people’s recovery from the trauma of slavery, won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play when first performed on Broadway. Lindo was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Herald Loomis (he will play the part of Bynum Walker at the Young Vic, Loomis is played by Holdbrook-Smith).

Delroy Lindo is perhaps best known for his work with Spike Lee on Malcolm X, Clockers and Crooklyn. His other films include The Devil’s Advocate, Gone in 60 Seconds, Ransom, A Life Less Ordinary and Broken Arrow, while his Broadway credits include Athol Fugard’s Master Harold and his Boys directed by the playwright.

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The Donmar Warehouse has announced full casting for its forthcoming revival of Simon Gray’s The Late Middle Classes, which opens on 1 June 2010 (previews from 27 May)

The production, which is directed by David Leveaux, marks the London premiere of the play, which won a Barclays Theatre Award when it was directed by Gray’s friend Harold Pinter at the Watford Palace in 1999.

It centres on a young boy trapped between two types of oppressive love, which reveals the frustration, secrets and guilt of middle class respectability in 1950s England. Celia is bored to distraction; Charles is obsessed with his work; and their son is having his first lessons in music and in life.

Joining the previously announced Helen McCrory (Celia), will be: Eleanor Bron (Ellie), Robert Glenister (Brownlow) and Peter Sullivan (Charles). The role of Holly will be played at alternate performances by Laurence Belcher, Harvey O’Neil and Felix Zadek-Ewing.

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In other casting news:

Ruth Negga will play Ophelia in Nicholas Hytner‘s production of Hamlet, starring Rory Kinnear in the title role and Clare Higgins as Gertrude, which opens at the National Theatre in September (See News, 21 Jan 2010). Negga was in Hytner’s production of Phedre last year, while her TV credits include Criminal Justice.

Ruby Bentall will star in the title role of Laura Wade‘s new adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (titled Alice), which premiers at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre on 22 June (previews from 17 June), continuing to 24 July 2010. The playwright is again teaming up with Lyndsey Turner, who is currently directing Wade’s Posh at the Royal Court. In the Crucible Studio, Frances Barber will lead the cast in a revival of Polly Stenham’s That Face, which runs from 1 to 24 July.