The Almeida Theatre’s epic reading of The Iliad this Friday will feature a staggering line-up of performances from more than 50 acclaimed actors including Lesley Manville, Simon Russell Beale and Rory Kinnear.
The incredible line-up of theatre greats and screen stars will, under the direction of Rupert Goold and Robert Icke, take part in a durational reading of Homer’s legendary story on 14 August.
Joining Manville, Russell Beale and Kinnear in the cast are fellow Olivier Award winners Katie Brayben, Simon Callow, Bertie Carvel, Brian Cox, Noma Dumezweni, Deborah Findlay, Julian Glover, Ian McDiarmid, Tim Pigott-Smith and Jenna Russell.
To be read on Friday. #iliad pic.twitter.com/5mplCENrWt
— rupertgoold (@rupertgoold) August 12, 2015
They’re joined by some of stage and screen’s most in demand performers including Nikki Amuka-Bird, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Oliver Chris, Sinéad Cusack, Amanda Drew, Lisa Dwan, Susannah Fielding, Kate Fleetwood, Mariah Gale, Mark Gatiss, John Heffernan, Tobias Menzies, Hattie Morahan, Jonjo O’Neill, Annabel Scholey, John Simm, Jonathan Slinger, Sharon Small, Sam West, Ben Whishaw and Lia Williams.
The list goes on, however, with numerous other familiar names and London theatre favourites set to take part with the cast completed by an equally exciting list comprising Adjoa Andoh, Lorna Brown, Simon Coates, Joe Dixon, Monica Dolan, Tim Dutton, Caroline Faber, Will Featherstone, Stephen Fewell, Annie Firbank, Barbara Flynn, Naomi Frederick, Simon Goldhill, Adrian der Gregorian, Scott Handy, Janine Harouni, Ian Hart, Kevin Harvey, Joshua Higgott, William Houston, Eleanor Matsuura, Ben Porter, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Paul Ready, Michael Shaeffer, Matthew Spencer, Gavin Spokes, Tafline Steen, Janet Suzman, Luke Thompson, Angus Wright and Hara Yannas.
The Iliad, which plays as part of the Almeida’s Greek Festival, will begin at the British Museum at 09:00 and culminate at the Islington venue hours later.
Anyone unable to catch the once in a lifetime event in person can watch a live stream on the Almeida Theatre website and enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes content.