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Dateline: 3rd September, 2008
RSC Love's Labour's Lost Casting Casting has been announced for RSC Chief Associate Director Gregory Doran's third play in the 2008 summer season – a new production of Shakespeare’s rarely performed comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost.
The play explores the power of love over reason, and tells the story of The King of Navarre and the nobles of his court who vow to study, fast, sleep little and see no ladies for three years. But when the Princess of France and her ladies arrive in the kingdom, the Lords discover their resolve is more difficult to keep then they first imagined.
Gregory Doran has already opened productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet in the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre.
The last time that the RSC produced Love’s Labour’s Lost was in 1995, directed by Ian Judge. It was also presented in Stratford as part of the 2006/07 Complete Works Festival by the Shakespeare Theatre Company from the USA.
“Although it seems tough on the page, I think Love’s Labour’s Lost flies onto the stage,” says Doran on the reasons he thinks that the play is so rarely performed. “Of all Shakespeare’s plays I think it has the most wit. It is about a young man showing off with a firecracker display of verbal dexterity. It’s the most delightful play, and it gives great opportunities to actors.”
Talking about the look of the production, Doran says, ‘We’re pitching it in its period. It will be delightful to get the RSC’s fabulous costume department to do their very best – producing a few roughs and doublets and farthingales. We don’t do it too often, so it’s nice when we do.’
The same company of actors who are currently performing in Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream have already begun rehearsals for Love’s Labour’s Lost. They are joined by Nina Sosanya who will play Rosaline. Nina last worked for the RSC in 2003 when she played Rosalind in As You Like It.
Edward Bennett plays the Duke of Navarre with Sam Alexander as Dumaine, Tom Davey as Longaville, and David Tennant as the charismatic Berowne.
Mariah Gale plays The Princess of France, with Katherine Drysdale as Katherine and Riann Steele as Jacquenetta.
Completing the cast are David Ajala (Lord), Ricky Champ (Costard), Ewen Cummins (Dull), Robert Curtis (Lord), Joe Dixon (Armado), Samuel Dutton (Lord) Oliver Ford Davies (Holofernes), Ryan Gage (Lord), Mark Hadfield (Boyet), Jim Hooper (Sir Nathaniel), Keith Osborn (Marcade), Roderick Smith, Andrea Harris (Lady), Zoe Thorne (Moth) and Natalie Walter (Maria).
The play is designed by Francis O’Connor (set) and Katrina Lindsay (costumes), the music is composed by Paul Englishby, lighting is by Tim Mitchell and the movement director is Michael Ashcroft. Love's Labour's Lost runs in repertoire at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford, from 8th October (previews from 2nd) to 15th November.
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