Transgender actor to play Hamlet in St Paul's Church production

Casting has been announced for the Iris Theatre's outdoor Hamlet, which opens at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden in mid June.

In what is believed to be a UK first, non-binary actor Jenet Le Lacheur (Redefining Juliet) will play the titular role in the production. They will be joined by Clare Bloomer (The Merchant of Venice) as Gertrude, Vinta Morgan (Richard II) as Claudius, Paula James (The Comedy of Errors) as Polonius, Jenny Horsthuis (The Three Musketeers) as Ophelia, Joe Parker (The Merchant of Venice) as Laertes and Harold Addo (Billy Budd) as Horatio.

Iris Theatre's outdoor production has direction by Daniel Winder, set design by Mike Leopold, fight choreography by Nathaniel Marten, costumes by Mady Berry, lighting by Benjamin Polya and sound design by Filipe Gomes.

Winder said: "In this, the 10th year of our outdoor summer season, I am thrilled to be bringing to Covent Garden a radical take on Shakespeare's greatest play. Never has this timeless story been more relevant, and this thrilling production will draw on all those contemporary parallels. We are going to find as much joy as we can in this tragic tale of wild abandon and youthful rebellion."