Theatre News

Morrissey, Shearsmith and Cattrall cast in Royal Court season

Initial casting has been revealed for productions including Martin McDonagh’s ”Hangmen” and Penelope Skinner’s ”Linda”

David Morrissey, Kim Cattrall and Reece Shearsmith
David Morrissey, Kim Cattrall and Reece Shearsmith
© Dan Wooller

The Royal Court has cast some heavyweight names in its forthcoming autumn/winter season, which was announced earlier this week.

Martin McDonagh's Hangmen – his first new play in London for over a decade – will star David Morrissey and Reece Shearsmith.

Directed by Matthew Dunster and running from 10 September to 10 October 2015, the play centres on the "second-best hangman in England" in the wake of the 1964 outlawing of capital punishment.

Morrissey will play the hangman, and Shearsmith his assistant. Artistic director Vicky Featherstone decribed Hangmen as a "hilarious and dark new play".

The 12-strong cast will also include Johnny Flynn, Sally Rogers, Josef Davies, James Dryden, Graeme Hawley, Ralph Ineson, Bronwyn James, Ryan Pope and Simon Rouse.

The Court has also revealed that Kim Cattrall will play the title role in Penelope Skinner's Linda, which runs from 25 November to 9 January in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs.

According to press material:

Linda Wilde has dedicated her life to changing the world. She’s won awards for her efforts, at the same time as working hard to become an inspiring mother, and an independent, loving wife.

Now, at 55, she seems to have it all. But Linda isn’t satisfied. She’s a woman in her prime and she’s embarking on her most ambitious plan to date. Beneath the surface, the cracks are starting to show.

Directed by Michael Longhurst, the production will include the Royal Court's first adult relaxed performance, aimed at reaching audiences who need a more open and inclusive performing environment.

Cattrall, best known for her long-running role in Sex and the City, recently starred in Sweet Bird of Youth at the Old Vic.

It was also announced today that David Mumeni and Katie West will star in Lela & Co. by Cordelia Lynn, which premieres in the Theatre Upstairs from 3 September to 3 October 2015.

And Georgina Campbell has been cast to appear in Speech Debelle's live performance and short film (on 31 July), which is directed by Ed Sayers.