Royal Shakespeare Company associate artist Mariah Gale has taken over from Fiona Button as Wendy in the company’s production of Wendy and Peter Pan.
Fiona Button, who originated the part in the 2013 production, was due to reprise the role of Wendy but due to an injury not related to work she has had to leave the show.
Mariah Gale went straight into rehearsals only 36 hours after she finished her run as Isabella in Measure for Measure at Shakespeare's Globe.
Her previous RSC roles include Miranda in The Tempest (2006), Ophelia in Hamlet (2008), Celia in As You Like It (2009) and Juliet in the 2010 production of Romeo and Juliet.
Ella Hickson adapted J M Barrie's children's story and Jonathan Munby's sell-out production opened in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 2013.
The cast also features Simon Carroll-Jones (Shadow), Cavan Clarke (Nibs), Sam Clemmett (Tom), James Corrigan (John), Darrell D'Silva (Hook), Adam Gillen (Martin), Susan Hingley (Shadow), Jack Horner (Shadow), Rebecca Johnson (Mrs Darling), Paul Kemp (Smee), Arthur Kyeyune (Shadow / Doc Giles / crocodile),; David Langham (Knock Bone Jones), Douggie McMeekin (Curly), Jordan Metcalfe (Michael), Charlotte Mills (Tink), Mimi Ndiweni (Tiger Lily), Dodger Phillips (Murt the Bat), Laura Prior (Shadow), Rhys Rusbatch (Peter), Patrick Toomey (Mr Darling / Skylights), Harry Waller (Slightly), Lawrence Walker (Tootles), Jay Webb (Shadow) and Dan Wheeler (Doc Swain).
Jonathan Munby again directs. Designer is Colin Richmond; music is by Oliver Fox and Jason Carr; lighting is by Oliver Fenwick; sound by Christopher Shutt; fights by Terry King; and movement by Michael Ashcroft. Aerial adviser is Jack Horner and video design is by Ian William Galloway.
Wendy and Peter Pan runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from Tuesday 17 November until Sunday 31 January 2016. Press night will be on Wednesday 25 November.
Meanwhile, Helen Edmundson's new play Queen Anne is to have its première in the Swan Theatre. As previously announced, the title role of Queen Anne will be played by Jodhi May. In 2010 she took the role of Kay in Mark Haddon’s Polar Bears at the Donmar Warehouse and she has also appeared in the TV series Game of Thrones.
Natascha McElhone, best known for the films The Truman Show and Solaris, plays Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough.
Robert Cavanah appears as her husband John Churchill. He played John in Men Should Weep at the National Theatre in 2010 and the title role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton in 2012.
The rest of the cast comprises Daisy Ashford (Lady Clarendon), Jonathan Broadbent (Robert Harley), Jonathan Christie (Arthur Maynwearing), Daniel Easton (Colonel Masham), Michael Fenton Stevens (Dr John Radcliffe), Richard Hope (Sidney Godolphin), Hywel Morgan (Prince George of Denmark), Beth Park (Abigail Hill), Carl Prekopp (Defoe/William III), Jenny Rainsford (Jezebel / lady-in-waiting), Elliott Ross (Jack Churchill), Anna Tierney (Lady Somerset), Tom Turner (Jonathan Swift) and Ragevan Vasan (groom).
Design is by Hannah Clark with lighting by Charles Balfour. Music and sound are by Ben and Max Ringham. Movement is by Ann Yee and video by Will Duke.
Queen Anne plays in repertoire with Congreve’s Love for Love in the Swan from Thursday 19 November until Saturday 23 January (press night Thursday 26 November).