The Royal Shakespeare Company is to stage John Ford’s rarely performed play Love's Sacrifice, which is said to have echoes of Othello, in the Swan Theatre at Stratford.
Love's Sacrifice is a “thrilling revenge tragedy powered by the destructive force of unrequited love”. Staged for the first time in 400 years, Love's Sacrifice was the winning play of the Scholar's Pitch, a challenge set by RSC artistic director Gregory Doran for academics to suggest a forgotten 17th century play that would appeal to a modern audience.
The play features the Duke of Pavia who, struck by love at first sight, marries the beautiful Bianca. But he is not the only one who loves her. Unknown to him, his best friend Fernando has also fallen for Bianca. With each day that passes he finds it harder to conceal his true feelings.
While the Duke is unaware of his friend's dilemma, his sister soon realises what is happening. Racked with jealousy by her own desire for Fernando, she begins to manipulate her brother, encouraging him to act against his friend.
As previously announced, Matthew Dunster, an associate artist at the Young Vic, will make his RSC directorial debut. His recent productions include Diana Nneka Atuona’s Liberian Girl which played at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in January, Ché Walker and Arthur Darvill’s The Lightning Child at Shakespeare's Globe in September 2013 and A Midsummer Night's Dream at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2012.
Catrin Stewart, who played Jenny Flint in Doctor Who and Emma in Ruth Jones's Sky 1 comedy drama series Stella, plays Bianca.
Matthew Needham is her devoted and jealous husband the Duke of Pavia. He returns to the RSC after being in the 2013 productions Candide and Titus Andronicus. His most recent role was Rafe in Francis Beaumont’s The Knight of the Burning Pestle in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe.
The rest of the cast is: Andy Apollo (Ferentes), Sheila Atim (Julia), Guy Burgess (Nibrassa), Beth Cordingly (Fiormonda), Geoffrey Freshwater (Abbot), Marcus Griffiths (Roseilli), Rhiannon Handy (Colona), Simon Hedger (guard), Julian Hoult (attendant), Matthew Kelly (Mauruccio), Jamie Thomas King (Fernando), Jonathan McGuinness (D'Avalos), Annette McLaughlin (Morona), Richard Rees (Petruchio), Colin Ryan (Giacapo), Nav Sidhu (attendant) and Gabby Wong (attendant).
Designer is Anna Fleischle. Lighting is by Lee Curran, music by Alexander Balanescu, sound by Ian Dickinson, movement by Charlotte Broom and video by Dick Straker.
Love's Sacrifice runs in the Swan Theatre at the Royal Shakespeare Company from Saturday 11 April until Wednesday 24 June. Press night will be on Monday 20 April.