Casting announced for RSC Shakespeares 2016

  • Casting announced for much acclaimed RSC productions of Love’s Labour’s Lost andMuch Ado About Nothing

  • Edward Bennett returns as Berowne and Benedick and Lisa Dillon co-stars as Rosaline and Beatrice

  • Most of the 22-strong original cast will be returning for runs at Theatre Royal Haymarket, Chichester Festival Theatre and Manchester Opera House

  • The productions will once again be directed by Christopher Luscombe, designed by Simon Higlett and composed by Nigel Hess

The RSC’s hugely acclaimed 2014 pairing of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing(or Love’s Labour’s Won) arrives in London this Christmas, following runs at Chichester Festival Theatre and Manchester Opera House. From 9 December 2016 to 18 March 2017, Edward Bennett and Lisa Dillon will delight audiences at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in Christopher Luscombe’s elegant, effervescent productions.

At the end of Love’s Labour’s Lost two sparring lovers, Berowne and Rosaline, are separated; at the beginning of Much Ado About Nothing, two sparring lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, meet again after a long absence. The RSC productions, with dazzling country house designs by Simon Higlett and glorious music by Nigel Hess, are set either side of the First World War. Love’s Labour’s Lost conjures up the carefree elegance of a pre-war Edwardian summer, while in post-war Much Ado About Nothing, the world has changed forever, with the roaring Twenties just around the corner.

Lisa Dillon will play Rosaline in Love’s Labour’s Lost and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. Lisa recently starred as Moll in The Roaring Girl and as Katharina in The Taming of the Shrew, both at the RSC, and opposite Stephen Mangan as Lisa in Birthday at the Royal Court. Her other theatre credits include A Flea in Her Ear and Design For Living (Old Vic), The Knot of the Heart(Almeida), Private Lives and Under The Blue Sky (West End). On television, she is best known for her role as Mary Smith in Cranford.

Edward Bennett reprises his roles as Berowne in Love’s Labour’s Lost and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. Edward made his name when he took over the title role in Hamlet from David Tennant at the Novello Theatre in 2008. His recent theatre credits include Photograph 51 with Nicole Kidman in the West End, and the National Theatre’s One Man, Two Guvnors on tour.

Love’s Labour’s Lost

Summer 1914. In order to dedicate themselves to a life of study, the King and his friends take an oath to avoid the company of women for three years. No sooner have they made their idealistic pledge than the Princess of France and her ladies-in-waiting arrive, presenting the men with a severe test of their high-minded resolve.

Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy mischievously suggests that the study of the opposite sex is the highest of all academic endeavours. Only at the end of the play is the merriment curtailed as the lovers agree to submit to a period apart, unaware that the world around them is about to be utterly transformed by the war to end all wars.

Much Ado About Nothing or Love’s Labour’s Won

Winter 1918. A group of soldiers returns from the trenches. The world-weary Benedick and his friend Claudio find themselves reacquainted with Beatrice and Hero. As memories of conflict give way to a life of parties and masked balls, Claudio and Hero fall in love, while Benedick and Beatrice reignite their own, altogether more combative, courtship.

Shakespeare’s comic romance (possibly known in his lifetime as Love’s Labour’s Won) plays out amidst the brittle high spirits of a post-war house party, as youthful passions run riot, lovers are deceived and happiness is threatened – before peace ultimately wins out.

These productions are presented by The Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre, TRH Productions, Jonathan Church Productions and Duncan C Weldon.

Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing

Directed by Christopher Luscombe

Designed by Simon Higlett

Lighting by Oliver Fenwick

Composed by Nigel Hess

Sound by Jeremy Dunn

Choreography by Jenny Arnold

Chichester Festival Theatre: 24 September 2016 – 29 October 2016

Ticket prices from £10

Tickets available from www.cft.org.uk / 01243 781312

Press performances: Thursday 6 October at 2pm and 7pm

Manchester Opera House: 23 November 2016 – 3 December 2016

Tickets available from www.atgtickets.com / 0844 847 2484

Theatre Royal Haymarket: 9 December 2016 – 18 March 2017

Ticket prices from £15

Tickets available from www.rschaymarket.com / 0207 930 8800

Press performances: Saturday 17 December at 2pm & 7pm

Full cast      

Sam Alexander                  King of Navarre/Don John

John Arthur                      Sir Nathaniel/Antonio

William Belchambers         Longaville/Conrade

Edward Bennett                Berowne/Benedick

Paige Carter                      Maria/Ursula

Rebecca Collingwood        Katharine/Hero

Lisa Dillon                         Rosaline/Beatrice

Nick Harris                        Butler/Francis Pickbone/Butler/Officer/Musician

Nick Haverson                   Costard/Dogberry

John Hodgkinson              Don Armado/Don Pedro

Tunji Kasim                      Dumaine/Claudio

Emma Manton                  Jaquenetta/Margaret

Chris McCalphy                 Dull/Sexton

Peter McGovern                Moth/George Seacole/Soldier

Chris Nayak                       Footman 1/Borachio

Jamie Newall                    Boyet/Friar Francis

Steven Pacey                    Holofernes/Leonato

Roderick Smith                 Gatekeeper 1/Marcade/Verges

Jamie Tyler                      Footman/Hugh Oatcake

Harry Waller                     Gamekeeper 2/Marcade/Balthasar

Anna Wheatley                 Housemaid/Housemaid

Leah Whitaker                  Princess of France