Theatre News

Full cast announced and tickets on sale for Farinelli and the King starring Mark Rylance

The West End transfer of Claire van Kampen’s play opens at the Duke of York’s Theatre in September

Mark Rylance in Farinelli and the King at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Mark Rylance in Farinelli and the King at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
© Marc Brenner

Casting has been announced and tickets are now on sale for the West End transfer of Farinelli and the King starring Mark Rylance.

Countertenor Iestyn Davies will return to sing the role of Farinelli, sharing the role with Rupert Enticknap. The rest of the cast will also transfer with Sam Crane playing the acting role of Farinelli, Huss Garbiya playing Doctor Jose Cervi, Melody Grove playing Isabella Farnese, Colin Hurley as Metastasio and Edward Peel as De la Cuadra.

Claire van Kampen's play, which premiered in the Globe's Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in February, opens at the Duke of York's Theatre on 14 September 2015. The transfer will see the theatre reconfigured, with on stage seating and multiple candles "recreating the intimate atmosphere of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse".

Farinelli and the King centres on the relationship between King Philippe V of Spain (Rylance) and a famous castrato singer.

Rylance returns to the stage following his acclaimed portrayal of Thomas Cromwell in the BBC's Wolf Hall.

His recent stage credits include Richard III and Twelfth Night for Shakespeare's Globe and Jerusalem for the Royal Court, all of which transferred to the West End and Broadway.

Tickets are priced from £10, with over 50 tickets per performance available for £15.

Farinelli and the King is the debut play by Rylance's wife Claire van Kampen. For more info and to buy tickets, click here.