Casting announced for RSC’s EDWARD II
Casting has been announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s forthcoming production of Christopher Marlowe’s rarely performed tragedy, Edward II, which runs in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon between 21 February – 5 April.
This will be the first RSC production of the play since 1990.
Directed by Daniel Raggett, Marlowe’s tender, yet violent play about King Edward II and the man he loves stars Daniel Evans - the RSC’s Co-Artistic Director and double Olivier Award-winner - in the title role.
The cast also includes Eloka Ivo (Backstairs Billy, West End) as Gaveston, Ruta Gedmintas (His Dark Materials, HBO/BBC) as Queen Isabella, and Enzo Cilenti (The Crown, Netflix) as Mortimer.
Completing the cast are Jacob James Beswick as Lightborn, Michael Cusick (Ensemble), Stavros Demetraki as Spencer, Emilio Doorgasingh as Pembroke, Amy Dunn (Ensemble), Geoffrey Lumb as Warwick, Kwaku Mills as Baldock, Evan Milton as Lancaster, Christopher Patrick Nolan as Bishop of Coventry, Henry Pettigrew as Kent, Joseph Rowe (Ensemble), and Neil Sheffield (Ensemble).
Director Daniel Raggett said: “I’m thrilled and deeply privileged to be working with this incredible cast on Edward II. This major Elizabethan drama hasn’t been seen at the RSC for over 30 years, and our production will breathe new life into it: honouring Marlowe’s razor-sharp writing whilst embodying everything that gives the original the propulsive energy of a thriller.
“A love story with a political edge - this 400 year old play has plenty to say about the supposedly liberal and progressive times in which we now live: when King Edward wants to rule alongside the man he loves, how much change can the establishment tolerate, and at what cost?”
The production has set and costume design by Leslie Travers, lighting by Tim Lutkin, composition by Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly, sound by Tingying Dong, movement direction by Anthony and Kel Matsena, and casting by Julia Horan CDG.