Full Cast Announced for RSC's LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST & LOVE'S LABOUR'S WON

Full casting is announced for Christopher Luscombe's productions of Love's Labour's Lost and Love's Labour's Won (also known as Much Ado About Nothing). As part of a season marking the centenary of the First World War, both productions will play in repertoire in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon with a joint press day on Wednesday 15 October. They will also be broadcast live into cinemas worldwide and streamed free into schools.

Christopher Luscombe makes his RSC directorial debut having last appeared with the Company as an actor in 1998. His recent directing work includes The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Comedy of Errors for Shakespeare's Globe, as well as The Madness of George III and Spamalot in the West End. He directs a single company of actors in a fresh pairing of two of Shakespeare's most sparkling comedies. The productions will be set just before and just after the First World War in a splendid country house based on Charlecote Park in Warwickshire - four miles from the RSC's home in Stratford-upon-Avon.

As already announced, Edward Bennett and Michelle Terry are returning to the RSC to play the lovers in both productions: Berowne and Rosaline, Benedick and Beatrice.

Love's Labour's Lost full cast includes: Sam Alexander (King of Navarre); Peter Basham (Gamekeeper); William Belchambers (Longaville); Edward Bennett (Berowne); Nick Haverson (Costard); John Hodgkinson (Don Armado); David Horovitch (Holofernes); Tunji Kasim (Dumaine); Sophie Khan Levy (Housemaid); Oliver Lynes (Footman); Emma Manton (Jaquenetta); Chris McCalphy (Dull); Frances McNamee (Maria); Peter McGovern (Moth); Chris Nayak (Footman); Jamie Newall (Boyet); Roderick Smith (Marcadé); Flora Spencer-Longhurst (Katharine); Michelle Terry (Rosaline); Harry Waller (Gamekeeper); Thomas Wheatley (Sir Nathaniel) and Leah Whitaker (Princess of France).

Love's Labour's Won full cast includes: Sam Alexander (Don John); Peter Basham (Butler); William Belchambers (Conrade); Edward Bennett (Benedick); Nick Haverson (Dogberry); John Hodgkinson (Don Pedro); David Horovitch (Leonato); Tunji Kasim (Claudio); Sophie Khan Levy (Housemaid); Oliver Lynes (Soldier); Emma Manton (Margaret); Chris McCalphy (Sexton); Frances McNamee (Ursula); Peter McGovern (George Seacoal); Chris Nayak (Borachio); Jamie Newall (Friar Francis); Roderick Smith (Verges); Flora Spencer-Longhurst (Hero); Michelle Terry (Beatrice); Harry Waller (Balthasar) and Thomas Wheatley (Antonio).

Both productions will be broadcast 'Live from Stratford-upon-Avon' to cinemas in collaboration with Picturehouse Entertainment during the performance in the RST of Love's Labour's Lost on Wednesday 11 February 2015 and of Love Labour's Won on Wednesday 4 March and simultaneously screened in over 300 cinemas around the country whilst also being available in North America, Australia, Japan and Northern Europe.

Both productions are designed by Simon Higlett with lighting by Oliver Fenwick. The music is composed by Nigel Hess with sound by Jeremy Dunn. The Movement director is Jenny Arnold.

The Company is also offering another unique opportunity to schools across the UK to experience the productions in the classroom with them being streamed into schools in March and April 2015. As the first theatre company to broadcast its work to schools the RSC reached over 34,000 students with its first streaming of Richard II in November 2013.

This hugely popular initiative is made possible through collaboration with Ravensbourne College. Alongside the webcast, the RSC will create an extensive package of online resources for use by teachers and students in the classroom, both in the lead up to the broadcast and for use as follow up materials afterwards.

To book tickets call 0844 800 1110 or online at www.rsc.org.uk

For cinema listings and booking visit onscreen.rsc.org.uk/

Schools wanting to sign up for streaming direct to the classroom should also visit onscreen.rsc.org.uk/

The £5 ticket scheme for 16 - 25 year olds gives access to £5 tickets for all RSC productions whether we are performing in Stratford-upon-Avon, London or on tour. Tickets can be booked in advance on the phone, online or in person with some available for sale on the day of the performance. The scheme is supported by Project Partner, BP.

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