The Almeida Theatre announces casting for Medea

MEDEA
Euripides
a new version by Rachel Cusk
directed by Rupert Goold

25 September – 14 November 2015

bcb72e829320fb6c_100x100arThe Almeida Theatre announces full casting for MedeaRupert Goold will direct Euripides’ masterpiece, as one of world drama’s most infamous characters is brought to life in a new version by controversial feminist writer Rachel Cusk.

Alongside the previously announced Kate Fleetwood, who makes her Almeida debut in the title role, the cast will include Michele Austin, Guillarmo Bedward, Sarah Belcher, Amanda Boxer, Richard Cant, Ruth Everett, Georgina Lamb, Emily Mytton, Charlotte Randle, Lukas Rolfe, Justin Salinger, Louis Sayers, Sam Smith, Xavier Moras Spencer, Andy de la Tour and Joseph West.

Medea’s marriage is breaking up. And so is everything else. Testing the limits of revenge and liberty, Euripides’ seminal play cuts to the heart of gender politics and asks what it means to be a woman and a wife.

Design is by Ian MacNeil, costume by Holly Waddington, composition and sound by Adam Cork and choreography by Scott Ambler. Casting is by Julia Horan CDG.

Rachel Cusk was selected by Granta as one of their Best Young British Novelists in 2003.  Author of seven novels and three works of non-fiction, she won the Whitbread First Novel Award for Saving Agnes, a Somerset Maugham Award for The Country Life, and was shortlisted for the 2007 Orange Prize for Arlington Park. Her latest novel, Outline, was shortlisted for the Folio Prize, the Goldsmiths Prize and the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Kate Fleetwood is currently appearing in Maria Friedman’s production of the Cole Porter musical High Society at the Old Vic, having previously been nominated for Best Actress in a Musical at the Olivier Awards for her performance in the National Theatre’s London Road.  She was nominated for Best Actress at the Tony Awards for her role as Lady Macbeth in Rupert Goold’s acclaimed production of Macbeth (Chichester Festival Theatre/ West End/ Broadway).  Her other theatre credits include King Lear and Love’s Labour’s Lost (both National Theatre), Hecuba and Life is a Dream (both Donmar Warehouse), The Winter’s Tale/Pericles (Royal Shakespeare Company), The Tempest and The Two Noble Kinsmen (both Shakespeare’s Globe), and Our New Girl (Bush Theatre). On film she has appeared in the BAFTA-winning Philomena,London Road, Les Miserables and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Address           Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London, N1 1TA

Café Bar          The Almeida Café Bar is open from 11.30am -11.00pm, Monday to Saturday

Box Office       Phone 020 7359 4404 (10am – 8pm Monday – Saturday)

                         Online almeida.co.uk
                         In person 10am – 7.30pm, Monday – Saturday
Performances Monday – Saturday at 8pm
Saturday matinees at 3pm from 3 October
Wednesday matinees at 3pm on 14, 21 & 28 October, 4 November
Tickets £10 – £38

Website           almeida.co.uk

Twitter            @AlmeidaTheatre

#almeidagreeks

Facebook        facebook.com/almeidatheatre

Instagram       @almeida_theatre

Access            Bakkhai Audio Described performance by VocalEyes Saturday 5 September at 3pm, Touch Tour 1.15pm and Friday 11 September at 8pm, Touch Tour 6.15pm.

                        Bakkhai Captioned performances Friday 4 September at 8pm

                        Medea Audio Described performance by VocalEyes Saturday 24 October at 3pm, Touch Tour 1.15pm and Monday 2 November at 8pm, Touch Tour 6.30pm.

                        Medea Captioned performances Monday 26 October at 8pm

Talkback         Post-show discussion with members of the company
Free to same day ticket holders
Monday 26 October

Almeida Questions is an eclectic programme of pre-show discussions which consider some of the questions raised by the work on our stage. In each discussion, invited panellists dig into the key issues and ideas emerging from the show.
From Medea to Mumsnet Thursday 15 October at 6pm
From Aristotle to Albert Square Thursday 22 October at 6pm
Tickets £7 (£5 concesssion)

ALMEIDA QUICK REFERENCE

23 July – 19 September 2015
BAKKHAI
Euripides
a new version by Anne Carson
directed by James Macdonald

25 September – 14 November 2015
MEDEA
Euripides
a new version by Rachel Cusk
directed by Rupert Goold
Press Night 1 October, 7pm

The Almeida Greeks season has been generously supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Medea is supported by the Onassis Foundation.

The Almeida is supported using public funding by Arts Council England