Ralph Fiennes Stars in RICHARD III and Andrew Scott in HAMLET in New Almeida Season

The Almeida has announced its 2016/17 season, which is bookended by Shakespeare. It kicks off with the Rupert Goold-directed RICHARD III, starring Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave, and closes with Andrew Scott's Almeida debut in the title role of HAMLET. The season also includes a world premiere from Ella Hickson and the West End return of Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan's adaptation of George Orwell's 1984, followed by an international tour.

Ralph Fiennes returns to the Almeida after a 16-year absence to play the notorious Shakespearean villain, helmed by the theatre's artistic director, Rupert Goold (American Psycho, King Charles III, Medea). Vanessa Redgrave makes her Almeida debut as Queen Margaret, and the cast also includes David Annen, Tom Canton, James Garnon, Mark Hadfield, Scott Handy, Finbar Lynch, Aislin McGuskin, Joseph Mydell, Joshua Riley, Lukas Rolfe and Joanna Vanderham. The play runs June 7-August 6, 2016.

Michael Longhurst returns to the Almeida to direct Adam Brace's THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO, a provocative new play about the problems of doing something good about something bad. Longhurst previously collaborated with Brace on Stovepipe. The play runs August 12-October 1, 2016.

Ella Hickson's epic world premiere OIL, directed by Carrie Cracknell, drills deep into the world's relationship with this finite resource, driving our imaginations from 1889 to 2016 and beyond. The play runs October 7-November 26, 2016.

Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan's version of Orwell's 1984 returns to the West End for the third time, for a 12-week run in June 2016, followed by an international tour. Full details announced on April 8.

Finally, from February 2017, Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke (1984; Mr Burns, Uncle Vanya, Oresteia) directs Andrew Scott in HAMLET. The cast includes Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude. Full details announced later in the year, and booking opens in September 2016.

Priority booking opens to Almeida members for Richard III, They Drink it in the Congo and Oil from May 3, and public booking on May 12.

Photo credit: Miles Aldridge

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