Full casting has been revealed for director Emily Burns’ playful and contemporary take on Shakespeare’s vibrant comedy, Love’s Labour’s Lost, which runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon between 11 April–18 May.

The production is the first programmed by the RSC’s new Co-Artistic Directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, as part of their inaugural season.

As previously announced, the production features WhatsOnStage award-winner Luke Thompson (Bridgerton) as Berowne, alongside Melanie-Joyce Bermudez (King Lear, West End) as the Princess, Ioanna Kimbook (Women, Beware the Devil, Almeida Theatre) as Rosaline, and Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran (Beautiful Thing, Theatre Royal Stratford East) as Ferdinand.

Completing the cast are Jack Bardoe as Don Armado, Brandon Bassir as Dumaine, Jeffrey Chekai as Marcade, Iskandar Eaton as Moth, Nathan Foad as Costard, Sarita Gabony as Maria, Tony Gardner as Holofernes, Shailan Gohil (Ensemble), Amy Griffiths as Katherine, Kok-Hwa Lie as Dull, Jordan Metcalfe as Boyet, Tika Mu’tamir (Ensemble), Marienella Phillips as Jaquenetta, Eric Stroud as Longaville, and Jamie Tyler (Ensemble).

Director Emily Burns said: “I’m delighted to be working with this outstanding company on Love’s Labour’s Lost, the first production of Daniel and Tamara’s inaugural season at the RSC. This production contextualises the lords - with their strict regime of self-improvement, restrictive dieting and perverse ideas about the intellectual benefits of chastity - as modern tech billionaires, whose lease of land (in our production a contemporary, fictional island) from the Princess’ father is the real catalyst for the play. As the men play at being adults, the women take agency over the men’s childish games to serve their own ends. Love’s Labour’s Lost is a romantic comedy, but it’s also a meditation on fiction and reality, on the intertwining of language and power, and on the moment one “grows up”. It’s an enormous privilege to have such a talented, rigorous and joyful company to explore that with.”

Joining Emily Burns on the creative team are set and costume designer Joanna Scotcher, lighting designer Neil Austin, composer Paul Englishby, sound designer George Dennis, choreographer Shelley Maxwell, and casting director Charlotte Sutton CDG.

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