Full casting announced for RSC's Dido, Queen of Carthage

Full casting has been announced for the RSC's upcoming production of Dido, Queen of Carthage, which opens at the Swan Theatre in September.

Christopher Marlowe's story is about exiled refugee Aeneas and Queen Dido. The pair fall in love and have to decide whether to follow their hearts or to fulfil their political destinies.

Directed by Kimberley Sykes, the lead roles will be played by Chipo Chung (Julius Caesar, Sheffield Crucible) and Sandy Grierson (Doctor Faustus).

Chung will play the titular queen, and Grierson will play lover Aeneas. They will be joined by Ellie Beaven (Venus), Will Bliss (Hermes), Andro Cowperthwaite (Ganymede), Nicholas Day (Jupiter), Waleed Elgadi (Sergestus), Ben Goffe (Cupid), Kim Hartman (The Nurse), Amber James (Anna), Laura Kirman (Dido’s Train), Tom Lorcan (Illioneus), Tom McCall (Achates), Miles Mitchell (Trojan), Lucy Phelps (Cloanthus), Bridgitta Roy (Juno), Johnson Willis (Lord/Carthaginian/Dido’s Train) and Daniel York (Iarbus).

Opening on 21 September, the production has designs by Ti Green with lighting by Ciaran Bagnall and music from Mike Fletcher.

The production is part of the theatre's Rome season, which kicked off in March with productions of Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra.

Dido, Queen of Carthage runs at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 21 September to 28 October, with previews from 15 September.