Casting announced for RSC's summer season at Swan Theatre

Matthew Kelly is among the casting announced for the RSC's summer season at the Swan Theatre. Following on from his recent appearance in Richard Bean's Toast at the Park Theatre, he will play Friar Jacomo in The Jew of Malta and Mauruccio in Love's Sacrifice at the Stratford-upon-Avon venue.

Making his RSC debut Justin Audibert directs Christopher Marlowe’s play of religious conflict and revenge, The Jew of Malta. Returning to the RSC, having played the title role in Gregory Doran‘s productions of Henry IV Parts I and II, Jasper Britton plays the complex Machiavellian protagonist, Barabas. The Jew of Malta plays in the Swan Theatre from March 2015.

Love’s Sacrifice is directed by Matthew Dunster who also makes his RSC debut with this rarely performed revenge tragedy. Staged for the first time in 400 years, Love’s Sacrifice was the winning play of the Scholar’s Pitch, a challenge set by Gregory Doran for academics to suggest a forgotten 17th century play that would appeal to a modern audience.

At the centre of this tale of jealousy is the beautiful Bianca who will be played by Catrin Stewart (Doctor Who, Stella). Matthew Needham (Candide, Titus Andronicus, The Knight of the Burning Pestle) plays her devoted and jealous husband the Duke of Pavy. Love’s Sacrifice plays in the Swan Theatre from April 2015.

The productions are cross-cast. The cast for The Jew of Malta includes: Andy Apollo (Don Lodowick); Sheila Atim (Attendant); Jasper Britton (Barabas); Guy Burgess (First Knight); Beth Cordingly (Bellamira); Geoffrey Freshwater (Friar Barnadine); Marcus Griffiths (Calymath); Rhiannon Handy (Attendant); Simon Hedger (Merchant); Julian Hoult (Merchant); Matthew Kelly (Friar Jacomo); Annette McLaughlin (Katherine); Lanre Malaolu (Ithamore); Matthew Needham (Pilia-Borza); Steven Pacey (Ferneze); Richard Rees (Martin del Bosco); Colin Ryan (Don Mathias); Nav Sidhu (Callapine); Catrin Stewart (Abigail) and Gabby Wong (Abbess).

The cast for Love’s Sacrifice includes: Andy Apollo (Ferentes); Sheila Atim (Julia); Guy Burgess (Nibrassa); Beth Cordingly (Fiormonda); Geoffrey Freshwater (Abbot); Marcus Griffiths (Roseilli); Rhiannon Handy (Colona); Simon Hedger (Guard); Julian Hoult (Attendant); Matthew Kelly (Mauruccio); Jamie Thomas King (Fernando); Jonathan McGuinness (D’Avalos); Annette McLaughlin (Morona); Matthew Needham (Duke of Pavy); Richard Rees (Petruchio); Colin Ryan (Giacapo); Nav Sidhu (Attendant); Catrin Stewart (Bianca) and Gabby Wong (Attendant).