The new production is set to open at the Theatre Royal Windsor in June.
The Theatre Royal Windsor has announced that tickets will go on sale tomorrow (Saturday 20th March) for its inaugural Summer Season opening with Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This will be the first major production to open at the venue following lockdown.
Playing from the 21st June until the 4th September, this new production will be directed by Sean Mathias and star Ian McKellen in an age-blind interpretation of the young Prince. The production is being produced by Bill Kenwright and will mark Sean Mathias’ inaugural season at Theatre Royal Windsor.
As well as Ian McKellen, the cast is set to include: Ben Allen, Francesca Annis, Steven Berkoff, Emmanuella Cole, Llinos Daniel,Alis Wyn Davies, Ashley D Gayle, Nick Howard-Brown, Jonathan Hyde, Asif Khan, Lee Knight, Missy Malek and Jenny Seagrove.
The creative team includes: set designerLee Newby; costume designer Loren Elstein; lighting designer Zoe Spurr and composer and sound designerAdam Cork.
Rehearsals for Hamlet began eight months ago but could not proceed when new restrictions were put in place due to the UK’s second wave of COVID-19. The rehearsals will resume once more next week with strict measures in place to allow them to safely go ahead.
This new production of Hamlet will then be followed by Martin Sherman’s adaptation of Anton Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard, with McKellen as Firs the elderly manservant which will play at the theatre from the 10th September until the 23rd October.
Talking about the news, Sean Mathias said: “The return of British theatre from the long dark night of COVID 19 has rightly been one of our biggest cultural conversations of the last year. Now, as more rays of hope begin to appear, everyone in the industry is determined to help our precious art form explode back into life. We trust that by bringing together this exceptional ensemble to present two of the greatest plays of all time we will play our part in this revival, and on a personal note I can’t think of a more invigorating way to mark my first season as artistic director of the Theatre Royal Windsor Season.”
To find out more about both productions visit: https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/