Adrian Edmondson will play Malvolio and Kara Tointon will be Olivia in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Twelfth Night in Stratford.
Edmondson who makes his RSC debut is well-known for his television appearances on comedies including The Young Ones, Bottom and Blackadder.
Tointon played Rosalie Selfridge in the ITV drama series Mr Selfridge. Earlier in 2017, she appeared in the UK tour of Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight.
John Hodgkinson returns to the RSC after roles as Don Armado in Christopher Luscombe’s Love’s Labour’s Lost and Prince Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing in 2014 to play Sir Toby Belch. Dinita Gohil will make her RSC debut as Viola and Vivien Parry will play Maria.
The cast also includes Esh Alladi (Sebastian), Nicholas Bishop (Orsino), Michael Cochrane (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Beruce Khan (Festé), Verity Kirk (parlour maid), Joseph Prowen (footman) and Sarah Twomey (Fabia).
Director Christopher Luscombe said, “the great challenge of Twelfth Night is to reconcile its melancholy and joyful elements. I'm delighted to say that we've found an exceptional cast who, I believe, can do full justice to the play's dazzling emotional range. I can't wait to start work with them.”
Design is by Simon Higlett with lighting by Tim Mitchell. Music is by Nigel Hess and sound by Jeremy Dunn. Movement is by Jenny Arnold and fights by Kevin McCurdy.
Twelfth Night will be performed in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from 2 November until 24 February 2018. Press night will be Thursday 9 November.