Sharon Small makes RSC debut in Stratford

Published: 25 April 2014
Reporter: Steve Orme

Sharon Small in rehearsal for her role as Alice Arden Credit: Manuel Harlan
Ian Redford as Arden Credit: Manuel Harlan
Polly Findlay makes her RSC directing debut with Arden of Faversham Credit: Manuel Harlan

Sharon Small makes her Royal Shakespeare Company debut in Arden of Faversham, the second play in the Stratford Roaring Girls season.

She plays Alice Arden, the largest role for a woman in all Elizabethan drama.

She is best known for playing Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers in the BBC TV adaptation of the Inspector Lynley Mysteries. She has worked at the National Theatre, Royal Court and Donmar Warehouse.

Written in 1592, Arden of Faversham was published anonymously but has been attributed variously to Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe and Shakespeare.

The plot involves a wealthy businessman, Arden, being convinced his wife Alice is cheating on him. He is correct, but does not know the full story.

Determined to free herself from a miserable marriage, Alice is in fact plotting to have him murdered. She recruits a band of assassins who set off in pursuit of Arden. Husband, wife and lover find themselves locked in a deadly game as the assassins close in on their victim.

The rest of the cast comprises Joe Bannister (Lord Cheyne), Ian Bonar (Michael), Peter Bray (company), Elspeth Brodie (Susan), Colin Brown (company), Keir Charles (Mosby), Geoffrey Freshwater (Franklin), Lizzie Hopley (Mrs Reede), Joan Iyiola (company), Tony Jayawardena (Shakebag), Christopher Middleton (Clarke), Ken Nwosu (ferryman), Tom Padley (Greene), Ian Redford (Arden) and Jay Simpson (Black Will).

Polly Findlay who directs this “darkly comic thriller” is making her RSC directing debut. Her recent credits include Tim Price’s Protest Song and Antigone for the National Theatre.

Designer is Merle Hensel, lighting is by Lee Curran, music and sound are by Dan Jones and Bret Yount arranges the fights.

Arden of Faversham runs in the Swan Theatre from Wednesday (30 April) until Thursday 2 October. Press night is Tuesday 6 May.

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