Theatre News

Almeida Theatre to stage Romeo and Juliet starring Isis Hainsworth and Toheeb Jimoh, directed by Rebecca Frecknall

Two stars play the star-crossed lovers! 

Toheeb Jimoh and Isis Hainsworth Headshots provided by the production

Isis Hainsworth and Toheeb Jimoh will star in a new revival of Romeo and Juliet at the Almeida. 

Jimoh, who is a fan favourite star in Ted Lasso, was previously seen on stage in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Sheffield Crucible, and was last seen at the Almeida in the venue’s shortlived production of Nine Lessons and Carols, staged between lockdowns in 2020. Olivier nominee Hainsworth was a breakout star after her turn in Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, and she also appeared in Nicholas Hytner’s promenade production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The piece is set to be directed by Rebecca Frecknall, whose multi-award-winning mounting of Cabaret is set to be joined in the West End by her new staging of A Streetcar Named Desire (led by Patsy Ferran, Paul Mescal and Anjana Vasan), later this month. 

The show marks the first Shakespeare production at the Almeida since the Saoirse Ronan and James McArdle-led The Tragedy of Macbeth, which is set to be broadcast on the BBC in the near future. The Almeida will also make the show available on-demand from 22 to 28 March via their own website. 

In association with All Change, Arsenal in the Community and Cardboard Citizens, Annie Jenkins’ 24 (Day) will be staged from 3 to 5 August. The piece, directed by Jack Nurse, features local artists, community performers and professional creatives exploring what it means to live, work, love, pray, celebrate and mourn in Islington. 

Further casting for Romeo and Juliet is to be revealed, with the show playing from 6 June to 29 July.