Casting announced for world premiere of My Brilliant Friend

Casting has been announced for the world première of My Brilliant Friend, the stage adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan quartet of novels which opens at the Rose Theatre Kingston in March.

Niamh Cusack (Ghosts, Unfaithful) and Catherine McCormack (King Lear, Top Girls) lead the cast as Lenu and Lila, in this two-part adaptation directed by Melly Still (Cymbeline, RSC).

The cast is completed by Justin Avoth, Adam Burton, Martin Hyder, Victoria Moseley, Emily Mytton, Ira Mandela Siobhan, Jonah Russell, Badria Timimi, Toby Wharton and Emily Wachter.

Playwright April De Angelis (After Electra, Jumpy) has condensed Ferrante's four novels (My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, The Story of the Lost Child), about the friendship of two women in post-war Italy, into one play presented in two parts. Audiences will be able to see both parts in one day, or on separate days.

My Brilliant Friend runs at the Rose Theatre Kingston from 11 March to 2 April, with previews from 25 February.