Photo Flash: First Look at Cheek By Jowl and Pushkin Theatre's MEASURE FOR MEASURE

Cheek by Jowl and the Pushkin Theatre, Moscow, in a co-production with the Barbican, London, Les Gémeaux/Sceaux/Scène Nationale, and Centro Dramático Nacional, Madrid (INAEM), present MEASURE FOR MEASURE by William Shakespeare, beginning April 15 at the Barbican Centre and moving to the Oxford Playhouse, April 28 - May 2, 2015. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

In a first for Cheek by Jowl, the production will be screened on 22 April via the The Telegraph website, as well as the company's own website, and also at Warwick Arts Centre. The Telegraph is the media partner for the event, which will be filmed by the Roundhouse.

Measure for Measure has been hailed in Moscow as "a shattering portrait of contemporary Russia" (Novaya Gazeta). With his unique brew of laughter and high seriousness, Shakespeare dissects the nature of government, love, and justice - asking unsettling questions about how we are governed, exploring the "complex relationships between those in power, and ordinary citizens" (Kristina Matvienko). A corrupt government policing a chaotic city's convents, prisons and brothels... Cheek by Jowl's Measure for Measure, through "a series of swiftly changing spectacular scenes" (Teatral) explodes as "a real thriller, piercing the heart of the entire audience"(Mir 24). Measure for Measure has been nominated for five Golden Mask awards, including Best Large Scale Drama Production and Best Director for Declan Donnellan. For the full list of nominations, visit www.goldenmask.ru.

Declan Donnellan directs Alexander Arsentyev (The Duke), Alexander Feklistov (Lucio), Anna Khalilulina (Isabella), Nicholay Kislichenko (Elbow), Andrei Kuzichev (Angelo), Anastasia Lebedeva (Juliet / Francis), Sergei Lanbamin / Ivan Litvinenko (Executioner), Alexander Matrosov (Provost), Elmira Mirel (Mariana / Mistress Overdone), Alexey Rakhmanov (Pompey / Friar Peter), Yury Rumyantsev (Escalus), Peter Rykov (Claudio) and Igor Teplov (Barnardine).

This production is suitable for ages 16+. Performed in Russian with English subtitles. For more information, visit www.cheekbyjowl.com or follow on Facebook: facebook.com/cheekbyjowl and Twitter: @CbyJ.

Photo Credit: Johan Persson