A fairytale cast for Branagh’s Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet at the Garrick Theatre

The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company has revealed the full cast for Romeo and Juliet, the fifth production in the inaugural Plays at the Garrick season. Joining Lily James as Juliet, Richard Madden as Romeo and Derek Jacobi as Mercutio is Meera Syal as the Nurse. Meera Syal said: “I’m so looking forward to joining such an exciting and prestigious company, and to be performing Shakespeare with them in this, his 400th anniversary year.” Lily James is an actress of stage and screen who came to international prominence in Downton Abbey as Lady Rose and who has recently won acclaim for her role in Kenneth Branagh’s 2015 production of Cinderella in which she played the title character. Reuniting the stars of his celebrated film Cinderella, Kenneth Branagh and Rob Ashford will direct Shakespeareʼs heartbreaking tale of forbidden love. Derek Jacobi’s stage credits include Heartbreak House, King Lear, two productions of Twelfth … Read more

Three days of Drama and Literature at Hampstead Theatre


Hampstead Theatre

Following last year’s success, Hampstead Theatre has confirmed that its second annual festival will take place on 18 – 20 March 2016. The Festival boasts over 30 unique events including workshops and panel discussions featuring Sir David Hare, Sir Matthew Bourne, Howard Brenton, Darcey Bussell, Tim Pigott-Smith, Deborah Moggach, Meera Syal and Kate Mosse. Hampstead Theatre’s artistic director Edward Hall and producer Issy van Randwyck have invited a wide variety of artists to share their stories and work processes. Hall said: “Hampstead Theatre is thrilled to be bringing back The Festival after its incredible success in 2015. “We hope this year’s programme will give attendees an opportunity to meet some of the most original thinkers in British culture today and discover new insights into the wonderful worlds these people work in.” The first Hampstead Theatre Festival was hosted in March 2015 and attracted a 2,500 audience footfall in just one … Read more