Joseph Millson Will Play Henry V At Chester's Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

The Last Kingdom actor will perform as the warrior king in Loveday Ingram's Henry V between 26 July - 25 August. This summer marks the ten-year anniversary of the award-winning theatre, produced by Storyhouse.

Joseph may be best known for long running stints in television programmes such as The Last Kingdom, Banished, Holby City, The Sarah Jane Adventures, 24 Live Another Day and Campus. Along with guest starring roles in many more including Catch 22 for George Clooney, Talk To Me, Survivors, Penny Dreadful, Ransom, Ashes To Ashes, Enid, Eastenders, New Tricks, Grantchester, Midsomer Murders.

An experienced theatre actor Millson won the 2017 UKTheatre Award for best performance in a play for The Rover (Loveday Ingram) at the Royal Shakespeare Company (where he is an associate artist). He was recently announced as Mr Banks in the West End's revival of Mary Poppins.
Other recent credits include Keith (Arcola Theatre), Apologia (Trafalgar Studios), Mr Foote's Other Leg (Haymarket Theatre), Macbeth in Macbeth at Shakespeare's Globe theatre, this production was subsequently filmed and has been screened in cinemas worldwide, Much Ado About Nothing, King John, Spanish Golden Age Season (RSC/West End), Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Rocket To The Moon, Pillars Of The Community (National Theatre), The Priory, Fear And Misery (Royal Court), Love Never Dies (Adelphi Theatre, winner Best supporting actor in a musical WhatsOnStage Awards), Judgement Day (Almeida Theatre), As You Like It (Peter Hall Company - Ian Charleston Award), Richard II (Steven Berkoff Company), Hamlet (Stafford), also many other seasons and productions with and for Royal Exchange Manchester, Old Vic, Donmar Warehouse, Shared Experience, Glyndebourne, Watford Palace and several National tours .

Feature films include starring roles in Tango One, All The Devils Men, The Dead 2, I Give It A Year, Casino Royale, The Chameleon and forthcoming leading roles in ANGEL HAS FALLEN and DRAGONHEART VENGEANCE.

Joseph regularly performs in radio dramas, he was nominated for the Best Actor Award at the BBC Audio Drama Awards for his portrayal of George Orwell for Radio 4.

Joseph is married to Sarah-Jane Potts.

He said:

"I know some phrases get overused by people about to embark on new adventures but I really am delighted to be coming to Chester to join The Ensemble Company for this year's season at the beautiful Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. For so many reasons!

My wife and I have been to see several productions there and have been knocked out by the quality and spirit every time.

I've known Alex Clifton the artistic director at Storyhouse for a long time , in fact we have both run the same theatre company (Pursued By A Bear) years ago, I am so impressed and inspired by all he's achieved in Chester.

I get to play Henry the bloomin' Fifth!

A part I have salivated over for decades, and for the wonderful director Loveday Ingram who I had a life changingly good time working with previously on The Rover for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

I cannot wait to work with our two other wonderful directors too.

I have always relished working in genuine ensemble companies where the play is the star and the audience is the boss, and that's how things always feel in Grosvenor Park.

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre opens Friday 5 July and runs until Sunday 25 August. The rep company will perform Henry V, Twelfth Night (Julia Thomas) and a brand-new version of The Borrowers by Bryony Lavery, directed by Katie Posner. Rhys Jarman will design all three shows in the season. Millson will also perform in The Borrowers and Twelfth Night.

Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre was founded in 2010. Its first productions Much Ado About Nothing and Hercules were staged on a simple wooden platform stage, for three weeks to an audience of 2,500. In ten years' it has moved from a small stage, to a thrust stage to a full in the round theatre. Over 40% of its seats are now covered, and its capacity has doubled. The theatre now welcomes around 27,000 theatregoers for 9 weeks each summer.

Tickets are on sale now, children under 5 go free

Find out more and book at storyhouse.com

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