Casting has been completed for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s world première stage versions of Hilary Mantel’s novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies.
Wolf Hall won the Man Booker prize in 2009 and Bring Up the Bodies repeated the feat in 2012, making Mantel the first woman to receive the award twice.
Mike Poulton who previously worked with the RSC on The Canterbury Tales has adapted the books. Jeremy Herrin, recently appointed artistic director of Headlong Theatre, directs.
The casts comprise: Joey Batey (Mark Smeaton), Nicholas Boulton (Duke of Suffolk), Lucy Briers (Katherine of Aragon / Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford), Leah Brotherhead (Jane Seymour / Princess Mary / Lady Worcester), Alexander Cobb (Rafe Sadler), Olivia Darnley (Mary Boleyn / Lizzie / Mary Shelton), Nicholas Day (Duke of Norfolk), Daniel Fraser (Gregory Cromwell), Madeleine Hyland (Lady-in-Waiting / maid), Paul Jesson (Cardinal Wolsey / Cardinal Wolsey’s ghost / Sir John Seymour / Kingston), Lydia Leonard (Anne Boleyn), Ben Miles (Thomas Cromwell), Pierro Niel Mee (Christophe / Francis Weston), Nathaniel Parker (King Henry VIII), Oscar Pearce (George Boleyn, Lord Rochford / Edward Seymour), Matthew Pidgeon (Stephen Gardiner / Eustache Chapuys), John Ramm (Thomas More / Harry Norris), Nicholas Shaw (Harry Percy / Brereton), Giles Taylor (Cranmer / Thomas Boleyn / Packington) and Jay Taylor (Thomas Wyatt).
The play is designed by Christopher Oram. Lighting is designed by Paule Constable (Wolf Hall) and David Plater (Bring up the Bodies), with sound by Nick Powell. Movement is by Siân Williams and music composed by Stephen Warbeck.
The plays run in the Swan Theatre at Stratford from 11 December until 29 March. Press performances will be on Wednesday 8 January.