Site-specific Murder in the Cathedral reveals cast joining David Suchet

Orange Tree Theatre has announced the cast for their revival of T.S. Eliot’s classic Murder in the Cathedral.

Directed by Tom Littler with the theatre’s community director, Francesca Ellis, the piece will be presented in Richmond’s St John the Divine Church before transferring to Theatre Royal Bath.

Joining the previously announced David Suchet as Thomas Becket are Mensah Bediako (as Third Priest), Ben Caplan (Second Tempter, Second Knight), Paul Hickey (Second Priest), Jyuddah Jaymes (First Tempter, First Knight), Michael Lyle (First Priest), Nick Sampson (Third Tempter, Third Knight), Jad Sayegh (Messenger) and David Yelland (Fourth Tempter, Fourth Knight).

In Richmond, the chorus will be led by Sally Cheng, Sonya Cullingford, Chyna-Rose Frederick and Rebecca Thorn, who will then be joined in Bath by Rebecca Askew, Florence Dobson, Samantha Dorsey, Beatrice John, Yuki Sutton and Hannah Whitehouse for the transfer.

For the performances in Richmond, the Women of Canterbury will be played by a community ensemble.

The production opens at Richmond’s St John the Divine Church on 19 October, with previews from 12 October and runs until 7 November before transferring to Theatre Royal Bath from 10 to 21 November.

Artistic director Littler said today: “It’s a particular pleasure to welcome this exceptional company to join David Suchet, who leads the production as Becket. Murder in the Cathedral is one of the great achievements of twentieth-century verse drama, and Eliot’s questions of conscience and power feel as urgent now as when he wrote them. I’m especially proud that our Women of Canterbury will be played by members of our community ensemble, continuing the Orange Tree’s commitment to building genuine links with the people and communities around us. This is set to be a truly special production, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience it.”

The creative team also includes set designer Rob Jones, costume designer Cat Fuller, lighting designer Peter Mumford, sound designer and associate music director Max Pappenheim, music director Michael Waldron, composer Orlando Gough, casting director Matilda James, movement director Lizzi Kew Ross, catering assistant Emily Chase, assistant director Flora Emily Thomson and associate costume designer Zoë Thomas-Webb.