The Royal Shakespeare Company is to perform a full production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona for the first time in 45 years.
Simon Godwin, associate director of the Royal Court, will make his RSC debut directing Shakespeare’s exuberant romantic comedy. He most recently directed Eugene O'Neill’s Strange Interlude at the National Theatre.
The production features Mark Arends as Proteus and Michael Marcus as Valentine.
Arends appeared as Winston in Headlong’s 1984. Marcus’s credits include playing Henry Tudor in the BBC series The White Queen.
Roger Morlidge, who was Dave in the Sheffield Theatres’ West End transfer of The Full Monty, plays Launce.
The rest of the cast comprises Elliot Barnes-Worrell (outlaw), Martin Bassindale (Speed), Pearl Chanda (Julia), Nicholas Gerard-Martin (Thurio), Robert Gilbert (outlaw), Jonny Glynn (The Duke of Milan), Molly Gromadzki (host / singer), Youssef Kerkour (Sir Eglamour), Sarah MacRae (Silvia), Keith Osborn (Antonio), Leigh Quinn (Lucetta) and Simon Yadoo (Panthino / outlaw).
The production is designed by Paul Wills with lighting by Bruno Poet. The music is composed by Michael Bruce with sound by Christopher Shutt. Movement director is Jonathan Goddard.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from Saturday 12 July until Thursday 4 September. Press night will be on Tuesday 22 July.
The performance on Wednesday 3 September will be broadcast live, simultaneously being screened in more than 300 cinemas around the country. It will also be available in North America, Australia, Japan and Northern Europe.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona will be streamed into schools in November.