RSC Announces Full Cast of WOLF HALL and BRING UP THE BODIES at Swan Theatre, Dec 11-March 29

The world premiere stage version of Hilary Mantel's multi award-winning novels about the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell and Anne Boleyn has now been cast and starts rehearsals shortly before starting previews in the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in December.

Wolf Hall won the Man Booker in 2009, and Bring Up the Bodies won in 2012, making Mantel the first woman ever to have received the award twice. She achieved another first recently, when Bring Up the Bodies also won the Costa Novel Award, the first time the same novel has won both this and the Man Booker.

The plays are adapted by Mike Poulton who has previously worked with the RSC on The Canterbury Tales Parts I and II, St Erkenwald and Gregory Doran's Morte d'Arthur. Jeremy Herrin was recently appointed Artistic Director of Headlong Theatre, his recent credits include This House (National Theatre), The Tempest (Shakespeare's Globe) and That Face (Royal Court). His new production of Another Country plays at this year's Chichester Festival.

Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies were originally commissioned by Playful Productions.

The two productions are cross cast including:

Joey Batey (Mark Smeaton), Nicholas Boulton (Duke of Suffolk), Lucy Briers (Katherine of Aragon/Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford), Leah Brotherhead (Jane Seymour/Princess Mary/Lady Worcester), Alexander Cobb (Rafe Sadler), Olivia Darnley (Mary Boleyn/Lizzie/Mary Shelton), Nicholas Day (Duke of Norfolk), Daniel Fraser (Gregory Cromwell), Madeleine Hyland (Lady in Waiting/Maid), Paul Jesson (Cardinal Wolsey/Cardinal Wolsey's ghost/Sir John Seymour/Kingston), Lydia Leonard (Anne Boleyn), Ben Miles (Thomas Cromwell), Pierro Niel Mee (Christophe/Francis Weston), Nathaniel Parker (King Henry VIII), Oscar Pearce (George Boleyn, Lord Rochford/Edward Seymour), Matthew Pidgeon (Stephen Gardiner/Eustache Chapuys), John Ramm (Thomas More/Harry Norris), Nicholas Shaw (Harry Percy/Brereton), Giles Taylor (Cranmer/Thomas Boleyn/Packington), Jay Taylor (Thomas Wyatt).

The play is designed by Christopher Oram. The lighting is designed by Paule Constable (Wolf Hall) and David Plater (Bring up the Bodies) with sound byNick Powell. Movement is by Siân Williams, and music composed by Stephen Warbeck.

WOLF HALL AND BRING UP THE BODIES, a new dramatisation of Hilary Mantel's novels by Mike Poulton, directed by Jeremy Herrin will run at the Swan Theatre, 11 December 2013 - 29 March 2014. Press performances: Wednesday 8 January 2014 (Wolf Hall, 1pm and Bring Up the Bodies, 7pm). Tickets: 0844 800 1110 or www.rsc.org.uk.

£5 tickets for 16-25s: 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.

Everyone at the Royal Shakespeare Company, from actors to technicians, milliners to musicians, plays a part in creating the world you see on stage. Our work begins its life at our Stratford workshops and theatres and we share it with audiences across the world through our touring, residencies and online activity. So, wherever you experience the RSC, you experience work that is made in Shakespeare's home town.

Shakespeare has been performed and celebrated in Stratford for centuries and the RSC has trained generations of the very best theatre makers since the Company was founded in 1961. We pioneer contemporary approaches to Shakespeare's plays, as well as staging the work of those who inspired him and the work of today's playwrights. www.rsc.org.uk

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