Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo in rehearsals for Antony and Cleopatra at the National

Rehearsal photos have been released showing Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo in rehearsals for Antony and Cleopatra, which opens at the National Theatre at the end of the month.

Directed by Simon Godwin, Shakespeare's tragic history play about two political leaders-turned-lovers marks Fiennes' return to the National for the first time since Man versus Superman in 2015, and Okonedo's first performance at the National since 1999.

The cast also includes Fisayo Akinade, Alexander Cobb, Tunji Kasim, Georgia Landers, Nicholas Le Prevost, Tim McMullan, Hannah Morrish, Shazia Nicholls, Gloria Obianyo, Nick Sampson, Katy Stephens and Sargon Yelda.

Antony and Cleopatra has set designs by Hildegard Bechtler, costume design by Evie Gurney, lighting designs by Tim Lutkin, music by Michael Bruce, movement direction by Jonathan Goddard and Shelley Maxwell, sound design by Christopher Shutt, video design by Luke Halls and fight direction by Kev McCurdy.