West End's ROMEO AND JULIET Adds Derek Jacobi to Cast

Derek Jacobi will play Mercutio opposite Lily James as Juliet and Richard Madden as Romeo in the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company production of Romeo and Juliet at the Garrick Theatre. The production will run from 12 May 2016 until 13 August 2016.

Kenneth Branagh said: "Sir Derek Jacobi has been an inspiration to so many actors and audiences throughout his brilliant career. To see him in Shakespeare is an event in itself. It's an honour to welcome this wonderful artist to our season of Plays at the Garrick."

Derek Jacobi said: "It's always a privilege to return to Shakespeare. The role of Mercutio is an exciting and intriguing challenge to take on. I'm particularly happy to tackle it in the company of Richard Madden and Lily James, with whom I had such an exciting working relationship in Cinderella."

Derek Jacobi's stage credits include Heartbreak House, King Lear, two productions of Twelfth Night (Olivier Award; Best Actor), The Tempest, Macbeth, Richard III and Richard II, Much Ado About Nothing(Olivier Award; Best Actor), Cyrano De Bergerac (London Critics Circle Theatre Award; Best Actor), Ivanov, Antony and Cleopatra and three productions of Hamlet (also directed). Derek has performed in many productions with both Chichester Festival Theatre and NT Old Vic Theatre including Three Sisters, As You Like It, Love's Labour's Lost, Othello, Love For Love, Black Comedy and Hadrian VII.

Derek's film credits include Cinderella, Grace of Monaco, The King's Speech, A Bunch of Amateurs, The Golden Compass, Gosford Park, The Children's Midsummer Night's Dream, Gladiator, Joan Of Arc: The Virgin Warrior, Hamlet, Aladdin, Henry V, Three Sister and Othello.

Derek's television credits include Last Tango in Halifax, Titanic, Joe Maddison's War, Margot, The Old Curiosity Shop, Doctor Who: Series III, Miss Marple: Murder at the Vicarage, The Jury, Frasier, The Secret Garden, Cyrano De Bergerac, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hamlet; Prince of Denmark, King Richard The Second, Markheim and The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes.

The Winter's Tale, Harlequinade, The Painkiller, Romeo and Juliet and The Entertainer make up the inaugural season of work for the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company. The Company presents Plays at the Garrick, a series of plays that bring together an exciting group of actors led by Rob Brydon, Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi, Lily James and Richard Madden. Performances begin on 17 October 2015.

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