The Royal Shakespeare Company is to celebrate the centenary of Arthur Miller’s birth by staging his 1949 play Death of a Salesman.
As previously announced, Antony Sher and Alex Hassell return to the RSC after playing Falstaff and Prince Hal in Henry IV Parts I and II. They will take the roles of Willy Loman and his son Biff. They are joined by Harriet Walter as Willy's loyal wife Linda and Sam Marks as younger son Happy.
The cast also includes Paul Birchard (older waiter), Ross Green (Stanley), Emma King (Miss Forsyth), Miranda Nolan (Letta), Sarah Parks (the woman), Guy Paul (Uncle Ben), Joshua Richards (Charley) and Brodie Ross (Bernard).
Death of a Salesman is regarded as one of the greatest American tragedies ever written. After a life of honest hard work, Willy Loman wants to retire with his loving wife and watch his two athletic, handsome sons continue his legacy.
Yet as old age begins to take hold and retirement beckons, Willy's dream seems further away than ever. Decades of graft have somehow failed to translate into wealth and his eldest son refuses to follow the path his father has chosen for him. Willy struggles to reconcile his cherished dream with the life he has actually lived.
Death of a Salesman is directed by RSC artistic director Gregory Doran. It is designed by RSC director of design Stephen Brimson Lewis, with lighting by Tim Mitchell. The music is composed by Paul Englishby with sound by Martin Slavin.
Death of a Salesman plays in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford from Thursday 26 March until Saturday 2 May (press night Wednesday 1 April).