Theatre News

Plays Cast: RSC Measure, Sister George & Earthquakes

Jamie Ballard and Jodie McNee will play Angelo and Isabella in Roxana Silbert’s Royal Shakespeare Company production of Measure for Measure, which opens in the Swan Theatre on 23 November 2011 (previews from 17 November).

The cast will also feature Raymond Coulthard, who last worked for the RSC in 1997 when he played Christian in Gregory Doran’s Cyrano de Bergerac, as Duke Vincentio.

Jamie Ballard is also an RSC returnee, having last performed for the company in the 2005/6 ensemble when he appeared in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado about Nothing and King John. His other stage work includes Emperor and Galilean at the National Theatre and the title role in Hamlet directed by Jonathan Miller at the Tobacco Factory.

Jodie McNee makes her RSC debut in Measure for Measure. Her most recent theatre credits include: Vi in This Happy Breed at the Theatre Royal Bath, Masha in The Seagull at the Arcola, When we are Married (West End), Canary for English Touring Theatre and Cordelia in King Lear (The Globe).

The cast is completed by: Bruce Alexander (Provost), Teresa Banham (Francisca), Geoffrey Beevers (Escalus), Paul Chahidi (Lucio), Laura Darrall, Catherine Hamilton (Mariana), Youssef Kerkour (Abhorsen), Joseph Kloska (Pompey), Sam Marks (Friar and Froth), Annette McLaughlin (Mistress Overdone), Ian Midlane (Elbow), Sarah Ovens (Juliet), Mark Quartley (Claudio) and Daniel Stewart (Barnardine).

RSC associate Roxanna Silbert, who is directing her first Shakespeare for the company, said: “Directing Measure for Measure, a brilliant play politically and philosophically, would always have been a pleasure and a privilege. It’s been made an even more exceptional experience to envision it for The Swan – a space I’ve always loved for its warmth, charm and intimacy with the audience.”


Full casting has been announced for the forthcoming revival of Frank Marcus’ 1964 comedy The Killing of Sister George, which will run from 5 to 29 October 2011 as part of the Arts Theatre’s new “Drama at the Arts” autumn season.

Joining Meera Syal and Belinda Lang (who play Sister George and Mrs Croft respectively) in Iqbal Khan’s production are Helen Lederer and Elizabeth Cadwallader.

Cadwallader, who plays Childie, has theatre credits include Rafta Rafta (Bolton Octagon), Sixteen Up and Dirty Kissing (Box Clever), Badge of Honour (Oval House) and Booty Call (Nottingham Playhouse).

Helen Lederer plays Madam Xenia. Actress, comedian and writer, her many credits include most recently for film, Horrid Henry and The Kid. Her television credits include Miss Marple, Little Howard’ Big Question and Hotel Trubble, and she was a regular on the BBC’s Grumpy Old Women as well as the hit series Absolutely Fabulous. Her stage credits include most recently Be In Now (Jermyn Street) and Calendar Girls (West End).


  • Full casting has been also announced for the forthcoming UK tour of Headlong’s Earthquakes in London, which kicks off at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 22-24 September 2011. Paul Shelley, whose stage credits include Moonlight and Family Reunion at the Donmar, will join the previously announced Tracy-Ann Oberman and Sean Gleeson, alongside: Ben Addis, Sam Archer, Helen Cripps, Kurt Egyiawan, Siubhan Harrison, John Hollingworth, Maggie McCourt, Lucy Phelps, Nicola Sangster, Gyuri Sarossy, Natalie Thomas, Joseph Thompson and Leah Whitaker.