Cast: Rachael Stirling is Headlong’s Medea, full Charley’s Aunt

This “startlingly contemporary” version of Euripides’ classic tragedy “explores the private fury bubbling under public behaviour and how in today’s world a mother, fuelled by anger at her husband’s infidelity, might be driven to commit the worst possible crime”.

Stirling was most recently seen on stage in The Recruiting Officer at the Donmar Warehouse. Her other theatre credits include An Ideal Husband (Vaudeville Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose Theatre, Kingston) and The Priory (Royal Court). Her television and film credits include Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Women in Love, Boy Meets Girl and Tipping the Velvet and she has just finished shooting an episode of Dr Who written by Mark Gatiss.

Full casting will be announced shortly.

In other casting news, full casting is now complete for the forthcoming Menier Chocolate Factory production of Brandon Thomas’ comedy Charley’s Aunt, directed by Ian Talbot and, as previously announced, starring Mathew Horne, Jane Asher and Norman Pace.

It will also feature: Benjamin Askew as Charley, Ellie Beaven as Amy, Charlie Clemmow as Ela, Dominic Tighe as Jack and Leah Whitaker as Kitty. Although previously confirmed, Sam Kelly has had to withdraw from the
production and is replaced by Charles Kay. Completing the cast is
Steven Pacey as Colonel Sir Francis Chesney.

First performed in 1892, Charley’s Aunt tells the story of two friends awaiting the arrival of one’s Aunt Dona Lucia. The two wish to propose to their true loves, but need the presence of Dona Lucia to chaperone. Time is ticking and Charley’s Aunt gets delayed. Desperate, the boys blackmail their friend Lord Fancourt Babberley (Horne) to pose as the missing Aunt. True to comedic form, all falls apart and that’s when the fun begins.

It runs at the Chocolate Factory from 1 October 2012 (previews from 20 September) to 10 November.