Full casting announced for return of THE FATHER AND THE ASSASSIN at National Theatre

The National Theatre has announced the full cast for Anupama Chandrasekhar’s critically acclaimed The Father and the Assassin, which returns to the Olivier Theatre from 8 September.

Directed by the Kiln Theatre’s Artistic-Director Indhu Rubasingham, this gripping new play is written by one of India’s most exciting playwrights.

Mahatma Gandhi: lawyer, champion of non-violence, beloved leader. Nathuram Godse: journalist, nationalist – and the man who murdered Gandhi. This gripping play traces Godse’s life over 30 years during India’s fight for independence: from a devout follower of Gandhi, through to his radicalisation and their tragic final encounter in Delhi in 1948.

Joining the previously announced cast includes Marc Elliott (She Loves Me, Sheffield Theatres), Sasha Ghoshal (Bend it Like Beckham the Musical, Starvox Ents), Aysha Kala (The Motive and the Cue, National Theatre), Johndeep More (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Perth Theatre) and Aryana Ramkhalawon (Exodus, National Theatre of Scotland).

2022 Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi, Sheffield Theatres/Simon Friend Entertainment)) will play the role of Nathuram Godse, with Paul Bazely (Cruella, Disney) reprising his role as Mahatma Gandhi.

The cast also includes Azan Ahmed (The Tempest, Shakespeare Globe), Ravi Aujla (The Lehman Trilogy, National Theatre/Neal Street Productions), Ayesha Dharker (Chasing Hares, Young Vic), Ravin J Ganatra (When Winston went to War with the Wireless, Donmar Warehouse), Raj Ghatak (The Kite Runner, UK Productions/Flying Entertainment), Halema Hussain (Does My Bomb Look Big In This?, Tamasha Theatre), Nadeem Islam (Antigone, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Tony Jayawardena (East is East, Birmingham REP/National Theatre), Nicholas Khan (Life of Pi, Simon Friend Entertainment), Raj Khera, Hari Mackinnon (The Cherry Orchard, Yard Theatre/ETT/HOME), Sid Sagar (Cabaret, ATG/Underbelly) and Akshay Shah (Kabul Goes Pop, Hope Mill Theatre).

Rubasingham is joined by set and costume designer Rajha Shakiry, lighting designer Oliver Fenwick, movement director Lucy Cullingford, composer Siddhartha Khosla, additional music by David Shrubsole, sound designer Alexander Caplen, and casting director Alastair Coomer CDG.

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