Full casting announced for political thriller BRITANNICUS at Lyric Hammersmith

News

Apr 22

Full casting has been announced for Jean Racine’s Roman tragedy Britannicus at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from 26 May-25 June; a thrilling, new production exploring monarchy, succession, dictatorship and depravity, set in modern day Rome.

The production features Shyvonne Ahhmad (Annika, UKTV) as Junia, Nigel Barrett (Pops, Edinburgh Festival) as Narcissus, Nathaniel Curtis (It’s A Sin, Channel 4) in the title role of Britannicus, Hanna Khogali (You Bury Me, Paines Plough) as Albine, Helena Lymbery (Measure for Measure,Shakespeare’s Globe) as Burrhus, Sirine Saba (Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s Globe) as their mother Agrippina, and William Robinson (Bacon, Finborough Theatre) as Emperor Nero.

Jean Racine’s tragedy is translated and adapted by Timberlake Wertenbaker, the Olivier and New York Drama Critics Award winning writer of Our Country’s Good. This enthralling adaptation of Britannicus marks the first major London production in 10 years and is directed by Atri Banerjee, winner of The Stage Debut Award for Best Director and recently named in their list of top theatremakers to look out for in 2022.

Director Atri Banerjee said: “I’m so thrilled to be directing this new production of Britannicus and to be working with brilliant collaborators across cast and creative team to bring Racine’s epic political thriller to life. From antiquity to the present day, we’ve always felt the corrosive effects of unchecked authoritarianism. Right now, we feel them in war in Ukraine; election in France; parties in our very own seats of power as the country is ravaged by pandemic. Britannicus dramatises the point when a “good” leader turns bad and so has never felt more relevant. Racine drew upon the political landscape of 17th century France to tell a story of 1st century Rome: in it, we see 21st century Britain.

“Britannicus makes the political personal and the personal political. It’s an honour to work with the legendary Timberlake Wertenbaker on her bold, muscular adaptation. I’m so excited by the vision and scope of our production, and I have no doubt that audiences will be gripped by what we have in store for them.”

Britannicus features set and costume design by Rosanna Vize, lighting by Lee Curran, composition and sound by Jasmin Kent Rodgman, and movement by Jennifer Jackson.

For more information and to book tickets, please click here.