Casting has been announced for Shakespeare’s Globe Associate Director Matthew Dunster’s reimagining of raucous comedy Much Ado About Nothing, transported to revolutionary 1910 Mexico.
Globe favourite Beatriz Romilly will play Beatrice, having previously starred in the Globe’s productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry VI Pt I, II & III, The God Of Soho and Doctor Faustus, while acclaimed actor Matthew Needham (who led the Academy Award-winning film Stutterer) will play opposite as Benedick.
Martin Marquez (Imogen, Before I Leave, Les Miserables) will play Leonato, while Hero and Claudio are Anya Chalotra (Great Expectations, The Crucible) and Marcello Cruz (Outnumbered, Julius Caesar). The role of Don Pedro will be played by Steve John Shepherd (A View From Islington North, Silent Witness), and Jo Dockery (The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time) will play Juana. Dog Berry is played by Ewan Wardrop, returning to the Globe after last year’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The full cast comprises Doreene Blackstock, Ashley Campbell, Anya Chalotra, Marcello Cruz, Oliver Cudbill, Charlie de Melo, Jo Dockery, Martin Marquez, Matthew Needham, Ammara Niwaz, Beatriz Romilly, Sarah Seggari, Steve John Shepherd and Ewan Wardrop.
Matthew Dunster is an Olivier Award-nominated director, a writer and actor whose recent directing credits include Imogen at the Globe, Hangmen (Royal Court and West End) and Love’s Sacrifice (RSC).
Shakespeare’s classic tale of antagonistic romance and madcap humour explodes on to the Globe stage with a fusion of Latin music, desert flowers and revolutionary politics in this bold new production, which plays from 14 July – 15 October 2017.
Tickets are available through the venue’s website.