Darvill in Globe Faustus, Soho Island & Realism
Doctor Who companion Arthur Darvill will join the cast of Shakespeare’s Globe’s upcoming production of Doctor Faustus which opens at the South Bank venue on 23 June (previews from 18 June), running to 2 October.
In addition to Doctor Who Darvill’s television credits include the BBC’s Little Dorrit and He Kills Coppers for ITV. His theatre work include Stacy at the Arcola as well as songwriting credits with playwright Ché Walker for the Globe’s The Frontline, and Been So Long at the Young Vic and on tour.
One of the greatest pre-Shakespearean tragedies, Doctor Faustus is being staged for the first time at the current Globe. It tells the story of Faustus, restless for knowledge and power, who forsakes scholarship and makes a pact with the Devil. In exchange for giving his soul to the Devil after death, the evil spirit Mephistopheles will serve him for 24 years, providing him with magic and knowledge beyond his wildest dreams.
Darvill appears alongside the previously announced Paul Hilton – recently seen in the BBC legal drama Silk – in the title role. The full cast has been announced as: Charlotte Broom, Michael Camp, Nigel Cooke, Jonathan Cullen, Robert Goodale, Sarita Piotrowski, Will Mannering, Pearce Quigley, Iris Roberts, Beatriz Romilly, Richard Clews, Felix Scott, Chinna Wodu and
Jade Williams.
Director Matthew Dunster will work with designer Paul Wills and puppetry director Steve Tiplady, former artistic director of Little Angel Theatre Company, to transform the Globe in to an “arena of wild spectacle with larger than life puppets and illusion”. Huge flying dragons and horned stilt walkers will help to bring alive what is being billed as a “dark fantastical world”.
In further casting news, again featuring a Whatsonstage.com London Newcomer nominee, the Soho Theatre has announced casting for Steve Marmion‘s upcoming productions of Mongrel Island and Realism with Robyn Addison starring alongside Joanna Holden, Shane Zaza, Golda Rosheuvel and Angus Barnett.
One of last year’s Whatsonstage.com Best London Newcomer contenders, Addison made her West End debut in Peter Hall‘s The Rivals at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and was recently seen in BBC drama Survivors. We hear that Marmion first met Addison at the Whatsonstage.com Award launch in December, and went on to audition her for the roles.
Realism and Mongrel Island share a cast of Joanna Holden, last seen on stage as Gretel in Kneehigh’s Hansel and Gretel at the Royal Festival Hall; Shane Zaza, whose credits include Pieces of Vincent and The Ark at the Arcola Theatre and the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Peter Pan; and Golda Rosheuvel, recently seen in Macbeth at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Juliet and her Romeo at Bristol Old Vic.
Angus Barnett – recently seen on stage in How to Tell the Monsters From the Misfits at Birmingham Rep and Hull Trucks’ Up ‘N’ Under – also stars in Realism.
Steve Marmion is reunited with Soho Theatre associate Anthony Neilson for the London debut of Realism which premiered at the 2006 Edinburgh International Festival. The production, which pulls back the curtain in front of the imagination and fantasies of a normal man, opens on 15 June (previews from 9 June) running until 9 July 2011.
The production is designed by Tom Scutt with music composed by Tom Mills.
Up and coming writer Ed Harris debuts his Soho Theatre commission, Mongrel Island from 21 July (previews from 14 July) to 6 August 2011. The show takes a bittersweet, touching and darkly comic look at how the world and workplace invade and manipulate our humanity.
Mongrel Island is designed by Hayley Grindle with lighting design by Hayley Grindle. Tom Mills also composes for the production.
