Shakespeare's Globe's Emilia to transfer to the West End

Emilia, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm's new play which opened at Shakespeare's Globe this year, is to transfer to the West End.

Nicole Charles' production opened at the Globe in August 2018 and will now run at the Vaudeville Theatre from 8 March 2019.

The piece tells the story of Emilia Bassano, the woman said to have been the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets. Malcolm's piece reveals her as a teacher, poet, mother and writer and one of literature's first female voices.

The role of Emilia is played by three actors at different stages of her life. Charles' production features a 17-strong all-female company with a cast which includes Nadia Albina, Anna Andresen, Jackie Clune, Saffron Coomber, Jenni Maitland, Clare Perkins, Carolyn Pickles, Sarah Seggari, Sophie Stone, Charity Wakefield, Amanda Wilkin and Tanika Yearwood.

Michelle Terry, artistic director of the theatre commissioned Malcolm to write the play in 2017 which opened to postivie reviews, including four stars from WhatsOnStage's Alex Wood, who wrote, "Malcolm writes eloquently, at times beautifully."

Malcolm said: "From the very start it's felt like both a challenge and a privilege to tell this story. There was something in the air throughout creating this and I'm in no doubt that magic happened this summer. We could never have predicted the response we got and I am so happy and excited to be able to bring Emilia back for more people to meet her."

The show runs until 15 June 2019 at the Vaudeville Theatre. Further casting is yet to be announced.