The final production in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Rome season, Coriolanus, is to join the repertoire in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford.
As previously announced, Sope Dirisu plays the title role. Haydn Gwynne returns to the RSC after 11 years to play his mother Volumnia. RSC associate artist Paul Jesson plays Menenius.
The company also includes Charles Aitken (Cominius), Tony Boncza (senator), James Corrigan (Aufidius), Bally Gill (citizen / soldier), Robert Ginty (citizen / soldier), Ben Hall (Roman soldier), Sean Hart (citizen / soldier), Martina Laird (Junius Brutus), Geoffrey Lumb (first citizen), Justine Marriot (second citizen), Christopher Middleton (second Volscian senator / lord), Hannah Morrish (Virgilia), Jackie Morrison (Sicinius Veletus), Esther Niles (gentlewoman), Katherine Toy (Valeria), Rebecca Wingate (senator), Simon Yadoo (trumpeter / first Roman / noble) and Assad Zaman (citizen / soldier).
Coriolanus is directed by Angus Jackson and designed by Robert Innes Hopkins, with lighting by Richard Howell. Music is by Mira Calix and sound by Carolyn Downing. Movement is by Lucy Cullingford and fights are by Terry King.
Coriolanus runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford from Friday 15 September until Saturday 14 October. Press night will be Thursday 21 September. The production will be broadcast live to cinemas on Wednesday 11 October.
All four productions in the Rome season, Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra and Titus Andronicus, transfer to London’s Barbican Theatre from 6 November.
Meanwhile, Christopher Marlowe’s dark tale of sacrifice and passion, Dido, Queen of Carthage, is to open in the Swan Theatre.
As previously announced, Chipo Chung is to take the title role. Sandy Grierson returns to the RSC to play Aeneas.
The cast also includes Ellie Beaven (Venus), Will Bliss (Hermes), Andro Cowperthwaite (Ganymede), Nicholas Day (Jupiter), Waleed Elgadi (Sergestus), Ben Goffe (Cupid), Kim Hartman (nurse), Amber James (Anna), Laura Kirman (Dido’s train), Tom Lorcan (Illioneus), Tom McCall (Achates), Miles Mitchell (Trojan), Lucy Phelps (Cloanthus), Bridgitta Roy (Juno), Johnson Willis (Lord / Carthaginian / Dido’s train) and Daniel York (Iarbus).
Kimberley Sykes directs. Design is by Ti Green with lighting by Ciaran Bagnall. Music is by Mike Fletcher and sound by Claire Windsor. Movement is by Ayse Tashkiran.
Dido, Queen of Carthage runs in the Swan Theatre from 15 September until Saturday 28 October. The press performance is on Thursday 21 September.