Yahoo Lifestyle Royal Shakespeare Company Rounds Out Cast for ‘Othello’ Led by John Douglas Thompson (EXCLUSIVE)
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has revealed the full ensemble for its upcoming production of “Othello,” completing a cast led by previously revealed headliners.
The ensemble includes Al Barclay as Lodovico, Scott Brooksbank as Montano, Ricardo Castro as Messenger, and John Paul Connolly as the Duke of Venice. Also cast are Jason Eddy as Sailor, Kevin N. Golding as Clown, Edward Hogg as Cassio and Colin Hurley as Brabantio.
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Rounding out the company are Madeleine Hyland as Bianca, Graham Mackay-Bruce and Andrew Price as Senators, Johan Munir as Officer, Jonathan Oliver as Gratiano, Finlay Paul and Claire Redcliffe in the ensemble, and Jethro Skinner as Roderigo.
As revealed earlier, Tony Award-nominated actor John Douglas Thompson will make his RSC debut in the title role. Thompson will be joined by Will Keen (“The Crown,” “Wolf Hall”) as Iago, Juliet Rylance (“McMafia,” “Perry Mason”) as Desdemona, and Anastasia Hille (“A Gentleman in Moscow”) as Emilia.
Tim Carroll, artistic director of Canada’s Shaw Festival, will direct the production. Carroll’s credits include productions of “Twelfth Night” and “Richard III” at Shakespeare’s Globe and “The Merchant of Venice” for the RSC.
The creative team features Judith Bowden (set and costume designer), Paule Constable (lighting designer), James Oxley (composer), Donato Wharton (sound designer), Alexis Milligan (movement director) and Kev McCurdy (fight director).
Thompson, the production’s Othello, brings a wealth of experience from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional productions, including performances in “King Lear,” “Carousel” and “Jitney.” His screen work includes roles in “The Gilded Age,” “Mare of Easttown” and the film “Till.”
Keen returns to the RSC after his previous performance in “Prince of Homburg.” Rylance, making her RSC debut, brings experience from productions at BAM, The Old Vic and Shakespeare’s Globe. Hille, an Olivier and BAFTA nominee, has previously appeared in the RSC’s “A Winter’s Tale.”
Carroll said: “It’s a big thing to be asked to direct one of the great plays by one of the great theater companies. I came into theater because I wanted Shakespeare to be at the centre of my life, so of course I have always felt a deep affinity with the RSC. It is the world’s meeting place for everyone who loves these miraculous plays.”
The Shakespeare tragedy is set to run at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from Oct. 11 to Nov. 23.
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