The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced further casting for its Stratford production of Richard III which will be directed by Gregory Doran, who is to stand down after ten years as artistic director.
Doran said, “it’s a real thrill to be back in the rehearsal room working with this fantastic company of actors which includes several familiar faces from the current double bill of Henry VI Rebellion and The Wars of the Roses.
“Richard III has a quartet of extraordinary women’s roles and I’m delighted that we’ve enticed RSC veteran Claire Benedict back to play the Duchess of York, Kirsty Bushell to play Queen Elizabeth, Rosie Sheehy to play Lady Anne and Mariah Gale in the role of Queen Margaret.”
As previously announced, Arthur Hughes, who was Richard Duke of Gloucester in Wars of the Roses, will take the title role in Richard III. He has a disfigured right arm and identifies as “limb different”.
Returning to the RSC after appearing in Henry VI: Rebellion and Wars of the Roses are Minnie Gale, Ashley D Gayle and Ben Hall, who will reprise their roles as Margaret, Edward and Clarence respectively. Conor Glean, who was Dick and Young Clifford in Rebellion and Wars of the Roses, will play the murderer. They will be joined by Nicholas Armfield (Richmond) and Micah Balfour (Hastings).
Making their RSC debuts are Callum Coates (Brackenbury), Oscar Batterham (Rivers), Sophie Cartman (keeper), Matthew Duckett (Catesby) Will Edgerton (Tyrell) Olivia Onyehara (Dorset and citizen 2), Thom Petty (Ratcliffe) and Joeravar Sangha (murderer).
Completing the cast are Simon Coates (Stanley), Eloise Secker (Mistress Shore and citizen 1) and Jamie Wilkes (Buckingham).
Set and costume design are by Stephen Brimson Lewis with lighting by Matt Daw. Music is by Paul Englishby and sound design by Claire Windsor. Movement is by Sian Williams with fights by Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown. The associate director is Aaron Parsons.
Richard III will run from Thursday 23 June until Saturday 8 October in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford.