Shakespeare's Globe Announces Full Casting For EDWARD II And AFTER EDWARD

Shakespeare's Globe has announced the full cast for Christopher Marlowe's Edward II, directed by Nick Bagnall, and for Tom Stuart's new play After Edward, directed by Brendan O'Hea.

Examining ancestral relationships and notions of identity, sexuality and power, Marlowe's Edward II sees King Edward recall his lover, Gaveston, from banishment, setting in motion a chain of events that culminate in some of the most shocking scenes in early modern theatre. Tom Stuart's new play After Edward, written specifically for the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in response to Edward II, sees Edward return to the stage alone, bloodied and confused. He has no idea where he is, or how he got here, but he does have an ominous feeling that something is wrong.

Performed by the same cast of actors, Edward II opens in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse on Thursday 7 February, followed by After Edward on Thursday 21 March.

Tom Stuart, writer of After Edward, will play the titular role in both productions. Tom has appeared as an actor at Shakespeare's Globe in many productions including The Broken Heart, The Changeling (2015), Romeo & Juliet (2009) and Much Ado About Nothing (2007). He performed in the Battersea Arts Centre's production of Edward II in 2008. His screen credits include Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, People Just Do Nothing (BBC), Psychobitches (Sky Arts), and A Good Year. Tom has been working in film, television and theatre as an actor for 14 years. His first play I Am Not Myself These Days, an adaptation of Josh Kilmer-Purcell's New York Times bestselling autobiography, was performed by Tom at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2015) and toured the UK in 2016.

Annette Badland will play Mortimer Senior in Edward II and Gertrude Stein in After Edward. Annette returns to the Globe after appearing in The Winter's Tale and Eyam earlier this year. Previous theatre credits include Stranger At The Table (Pascal Theatre Company), Far Away (Bristol Old Vic), Kin and Hung Over (Royal Court). Television work includes Shakespeare and Hathaway (BBC), EastEnders (BBC), Outlander (Starz) and Father Brown (BBC). Film includes A Quiet Passion, The Girl in a Bubble and Mother's Milk.

Richard Bremmer is Spencer Senior in Edward II and Leather Man in After Edward, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury in both plays. Previous work at Shakespeare's Globe includes A Midsummer Night's Dream and Julius Caesar. Richard was part of the 2017/18 Everyman Company (Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse). His other theatre work includes Shakespeare In Love (Noel Coward) and The Last Days of Troy (Royal Exchange). Television includes The Hollow Crown (BBC) and The Borgias (Netflix). Film includes In Fabric, Swallows and Amazons and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Richard Cant is Earl of Lancaster in Edward II and Quentin Crisp in After Edward. Richard's previous theatre work includes Maydays (RSC), Saint Joan (Donmar) and Medea (Almeida). Television work includes Silent Witness (BBC), Taboo (BBC) and Outlander (Starz). Richard appears in the upcoming film Mary, Queen of Scots directed by Josie Rourke.

Polly Frame will play the Earl of Kent in Edward II and Harvey Milk in After Edward. Polly's recent theatre credits include Thick as Thieves (Clean Break), Jekyll & Hyde (Rose Kingston), A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (Hull Truck) and Henry V (Regent's Park). Television work includes Doctors (BBC), Coronation Street (ITV) and Holby City (BBC). Film includes Macbeth, Half Light and Duplicity.

Jonathan Livingstone is Mortimer Junior in Edward II and Edward Alleyn in After Edward. Jonathan returns to the Globe after appearing in Daniel Kramer's Romeo and Juliet in 2017. Jonathan's other theatre credits include Twelfth Night (Young Vic), Machinal (Almeida) and The Caretaker (Bristol Old Vic and Royal & Derngate). Television includes Chewing Gum (E4).

Sanchia McCormack is Earl of Warwick in Edward II and Margaret Thatcher in After Edward. Sanchia returns to the Globe after appearing in Caroline Steinbeis's The Broken Heart in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in 2015. Sanchia's other theatre work includes Minotaur (Theater Clwyd/Polka Theatre) and One Night in November (Belgrade Theatre). Television includes The Innocents (Netflix), Silent Witness (BBC) and Catastrophe (Channel 4).

Colin Ryan is Spencer Junior in Edward II and Cowboy in After Edward. Colin returns to the Globe after appearing in Matthew Dunster's The Secret Theatre in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse last year. Colin's other theatre credits include Frankenstein (Royal Exchange) and Snow in Midsummer (RSC). Television includes Shakespeare and Hathaway (BBC).

Beru Tessema is Gaveston in both productions. Beru returns to the Globe after appearing in the Globe to Globe festival in 2012 and in several other Globe productions including Matthew Dunster's The Frontline and Troilus and Cressida (2009) and Dominic Dromgoole's King Lear (2008). His other theatre credits include Slaves (Theatre 503) and Hanjo (Young Vic Studio).

Katie West is Queen Isabella in Edward II and Dorothy Gale and Maria von Trapp in After Edward. Katie's other theatre work includes The York Realist (Donmar Warehouse), Uncle Vanya, Chamaco (Home), Lela & Co (Royal Court) and Carmen Disruption (Almeida).

Full cast includes: Annette Badland, Richard Bremmer, Richard Cant, Polly Frame, Jonathan Livingstone, Sanchia McCormack, Colin Ryan, Tom Stuart, Beru Tessema and Katie West.

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