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Lyric Hammersmith and HOME announce cast of othellomacbeth

CASTING ANNOUNCED

othellomacbeth

By William Shakespeare

Directed by Jude Christian

A Lyric Hammersmith and HOME production.

14 September – 29 September 2018 (HOME, Manchester)

05 October – 03 November 2018 (Lyric Hammersmith, London)

Press Nights: Weds 19 September at 7.30pm (HOME) and Wed 10 October at 7pm (Lyric Hammersmith)

Casting is today announced for the Lyric Hammersmithand HOME’s production of othellomacbeth, which runs 14-29 September at HOME in Manchester and 05 October – 03 November at the Lyric Hammersmith

othellomacbethis a striking, condensed staging of two of Shakespeare’s most brutal and poetic plays. Told by an ensemble company, these two iconic stories collide in a dynamic and visceral new production.

The company of nine actors play characters in both Othello and Macbeth. As Macbeth and Cassio is Sandy Grierson,who has performed extensively with the RSC, most recently in Dido, Queen of Carthage andDoctor Faustus (also at the Barbican theatre). In the role of Bianca is Kezrena James, whose credits include The Little Matchgirl and Other Happier Tales at The Globe and Bristol Old Vic. Joining them in the role of Emilia is Melissa Johnswho recently performed with GRAEAE, her other credits include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nestat the Sheffield Crucible and BBC’s The Interceptor.

The full cast includes: Samuel Collings (Iago/Macduff), Grace Cookey Gam (Ludovico/Lennox), Paul Courtaney Hyu (Brabantio/Duncan), Caroline Faber (Lady Macbeth), Kirsten Foster (Desdemona), Sandy Grierson (Cassio/Macbeth), Kezrena James (Bianca), Melissa Johns (Emilia) and Ery Nzaramba (Othello/Banquo).

Directed by Jude Christian, who most recently co-directed the sell-out, Royal Court production of My Mum’s a Twatwith Vicky Featherstone, as well as the 2015 hit Lela & Co, also at the Royal Court. Jude is also an associate director at the Lyric Hammersmith (The Seagull, Jack and the Beanstalk), and returns to Manchester following her work directing the Royal Exchange and Bush Theatre production of Parliament Square.

Jude Christian, Director of othellomacbeth said: “This production is an ambitious endeavour, and I’m really excited to have such a passionate, fearless cast to work with. They’re rigorously bringing to life these two monoliths of British culture and asking what they mean in Britain today.”

othellomacbeth is designed by Basia Binkowska, the overall winner of the Linbury Prize 2017. The Linbury Prize is the UK’s most prestigious award for Stage Design, providing a unique opportunity for graduating designers to work with some of the UK’s leading theatre, opera and dance companies.

Writer                         William Shakespeare

Director                       Jude Christian

Designer                     Basia Binkowska

Lighting Designer       Joshua Pharo

Sound Designer          Nick Gill

Casting Director         Annelie Powell CDG

Click below to watch an interview with director Jude Christian.