Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce the full cast for the world premiere of Anders Lustgarten’s The Secret Theatre in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse directed by Matthew Dunster.
As the nation’s relationship with Europe deteriorates and civil unrest grows, Elizabeth I’s spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, adopts extreme tactics to keep his queen and country safe. Set in a world of espionage, double-crossing and blackmail, The Secret Theatre asks what we are prepared to sacrifice to ensure our safety.
Tara Fitzgerald will play Elizabeth I, returning to the Globe after appearing as Lady Macbeth in 2016. Tara’s recent stage credits include Gaslight (Northampton Royal), The Winter’s Tale (RSC), Broken Glass (West End), and A Doll’s House (Donmar). Tara recently played Selyse Baratheon in Game of Thrones and her other screen credits include The Musketeers (BBC), Legend, Child 44, Exodus: Gods and Kings.
Aidan McArdle will play Sir Francis Walsingham. Previous theatre work includes School for Scandal (Barbican), The White Devil (Menier Chocolate Factory), There Came a Gypsy Riding (Almeida), Great Expectations (Bristol Old Vic) and Anthony and Cleopatra (RSC). Television credits include The Fall (BBC), Humans (Channel 4), Sense 8 (Netflix), Mr Selfridge (ITV) and Quirke (BBC). Film credits include The Duchess, Me and Orson Welles, Killing Bono and Late Bloomers.
Abraham Popoola will play John Ballard, having appeared as Badvoc in the Globe’s production of Boudica this summer and winning Best Actor in The Stage Debut Awards last month. Edmund Kingsley will play Pooley. Edmund’s previous stage work includes Seven Acts of Mercy, Hecuba (RSC), The Keepers of Infinite Space (Park Theatre) and Dangerous Corner (Salisbury Playhouse). Cassie Layton will play Frances. Colin Ryan will play Phelippes and Ian Redford will play Sir William Cecil, Topcliffe and Palmer. Ian last appeared at the Globe in 2010’s Romeo & Juliet.
The full cast comprises Tara Fitzgerald, Edmund Kingsley, Cassie Layton, Sam Marks, Aidan McArdle, David Partridge, Abraham Popoola, Ian Redford, Colin Ryan.
Buy your tickets through the Shakespeare’s Globe website.