Shakespeare’s Globe have announced full casting for Associate Director Matthew Dunster’s reclamation of Cymbeline, entitled Imogen, and John Wolfson’s forthcoming voyage drama The Inn At Lydda.
Joining the previously announced EastEnders actress Maddy Hill, the titular Imogen, are stage and screen veteran Matthew McGuiness as the regal Cymbeline, Ira Mandela Siobhan as her husband Posthumus, and Matthew Needham as the villainous Iachimo.
Completing the cast are Claire-Louise Cordwell, Joshua Lacey, Martin Marquez, William Grint, Scott Karim, Leila Ayad, Okorie Chukwu, Sapphire Joy, Erica Kouassi, Malik-Sankara Mosiah Watson, Anwar Russell and Kai Spellman.
An achingly beautiful story of lovers and families being re-united after violent separation, Imogen is Dunster’s reimagining of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline in a vivid and brutal modern world, running from 17 September.
The news follows the venue’s announcement of the full casting for The Inn At Lydda, a new drama by the theatre’s Curator of Rare Books John Wolfson. Following the remarkable journey of Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar, the play centres on his efforts to find Jesus in the Holy Land to have his mortal illness cured.
The renowned Stephen Boxer, perhaps most famous for his roles in a number of detective dramas, will portray Tiberius, alongside Doctors co-star Samuel Collings as Jesus.
Joseph Marcell, of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air fame, will play Caspar, with Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone’s Richard Bremmer playing Balthasar. The cast is completed by Philip Cumbus, David Cardy, Matthew Romain, David Tarkenter, Chris Lew Kum Hoi, Kevin Moore, Christopher Bianci, Jessie Lilley and Owen Young.
The Inn At Lydda plays in the intimate Sam Wanamaker Playhouse between 2-17 September.
Tickets for both productions are available through the venue’s website.