Charlotte Josephine to star as Mercutio in RSC's Romeo and Juliet

Full casting has been announced for Erica Whyman's production of Romeo and Juliet which opens in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in April.

Joining the previously announced Bally Gill and Karen Fishwick, who will play the roles of Romeo and Juliet, is Charlotte Josephine (Bitch Boxer, Blush) as Mercutio, Ishia Bennison as Nurse, Josh Finan as Benvolio, Mariam Haque as Lady Capulet and Sakuntala Ramanee as Lady Montague.

Completing the cast is Afolabi Alli as Paris, Donna Banya as Gregory, Stevie Basaula as Sampson, Katy Brittain as Friar John/Apothecary, Raif Clarke as Peter, Beth Cordingly as Escalus, Paul Dodds as Montague, Andrew French as Friar Laurence, Michael Hodgson as Capulet, John Macaulay as Cousin Capulet, Tom Padley as Balthasar and Nima Taleghani as Abraham.

The production is directed by deputy artistic director Whyman, with design by Tom Piper, lighting by Charles Balfour, music by Sophie Cotton and movement by Ayse Tashkiran. It will have a live cinema broadcast on 18 July 2018, prior to a nationwide tour in 2019

Romeo and Juliet runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 1 May to 21 September, with previews from 21 April.