Michael Xavier, Alexander Hanson, Alexandra Gilbreath and Alex Waldmann have joined Joely Richardson, Rufus Hound and Robert Sheehan in the cast of the Trevor Nunn directed The Wars Of The Roses.
The trilogy of plays, adapted from Shakespeare’s Henry VI Parts I, II & III and Richard III, runs at the Rose Theatre Kingston from 16 September.
The plays follow the struggle for power in medieval England as a child king, in the form of Henry VI, prompts a vicious power struggle between the houses of York and Lancaster that leads to the rise of the ruthlessly ambitious Richard III.
Waldmann, who played The Bastard in King John at Shakespeare’s Globe earlier this summer, takes the role of Henry VI, with Norwegian performer Kåre Conradi as the briefly crowned Edward IV and Misfits star Robert Sheehan as Richard III.
Hanson, who joins the company to play Richard, Duke of York and Buckingham, can currently be seen in The Gathered Leaves at the Park Theatre. Gilbreath, currently starring in The Invisible at the Park Theatre, play Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester and Elizabeth. Best known for his musical theatre work, which has delivered two Olivier Award nominations, Xavier play Suffolk and George Of Clarence.
Casting for the production is completed by the previously announced Joely Richardson, Oliver Cotton, Andrew Woodall, Oscar Batterham, Freddy Carter, Jim Creighton, Imogen Daines, Harry Egan, James de Lauch Hay, Geoff Leesley, Owen Oakeshott, James Simmons, Laurence Spellman, Susan Tracy and Timothy Walker.
The company of more than 20 professional actors will work with a chorus drawn from the local community to become the largest ensemble to ever perform on the Rose’s stage.