Casting announced for Merlin at Nuffield, Southampton

Casting has been announced for the Nuffield and Royal and Derngate co-production of Merlin, which opens at the Nuffield in December.

The cast includes Rob Castell (Fully Committed, The Snow Queen), Joshua Manning (The BFG, The End of Something), Kayla Meikle (Streets, Sweeney Todd), Fred Lancaster (Henry V, This House), Aryana Ramkhalawon (Secret Garden, Waterloo Road), Sophie Reid (Once, Game of Thrones) and Adam Welsh (War Horse, Dreamboats and Petticoats).

Created by Ollie Birch, Ella Hickson (adapter of the RSC's Wendy and Peter Pan) and BAFTA-nominated cast member Rob Castell, the production combines quick fire storytelling with new music and follows Merlin and his childhood friends, Arthur and Gwen, as they embark on an action-packed journey of a lifetime.

The production is directed by Liam Steel (Into the Woods) and designed by Yannis Thavoris.

Nuffied's producer, Annie Reilly, commented: "Featuring some of Camelot's most extraordinary and hilarious characters, from petulant princesses to vile villains and mystical dragons, this magical musical play tells the origins of one of the most famous legends of all time."

Merlin runs at the Nuffield, Southampton from 1 December to 3 January.