Mark Rylance returns to the Apollo Theatre to play the title role of Richard III and Olivia in Twelfth Night.  He is joined by Stephen Fry as Malvolio in Twelfth Night.  

Designs are by Jenny Tiramani and music is by Claire van Kampen who along with Tim Carroll were the creative team behind the Globe’s original 2002 version of Twelfth Night. David Plater will design the lighting for the transfer. Sonia Friedman Productions in association with Shakespeare Road, 1001 Nights, Bob Bartner & Norman Tulchin and Rupert Gavin present Shakespeare’s Globe productions of Richard III and Twelfth Night, Associate Producer Adam Blanshay.

 

Press day is Saturday 17 November 2012 with Richard III at 1.30pm and Twelfth Night at 7pm.

 

 

The full cast for Richard III is Samuel Barnett (Queen Elizabeth), Liam Brennan (Clarence and the Lord Mayor), Paul Chahidi (Hastings and Tyrrell), John Paul Connolly (First Murderer and Ratcliff), Ian Drysdale (Scrivener/Rivers/Blunt), Peter Hamilton Dyer (Brakenbury and Catesby), Johnny Flynn (Lady Anne and Grey), James Garnon (Richmond and Duchess of York),  Colin Hurley (King Edward IV and Stanley) and Roger Lloyd Pack (Duke of Buckingham), Mark Rylance (Richard III),  Jethro Skinner (Second Murderer and Messenger) and Ben Thompson (Dorset and Bishop of Ely).

 

Richard Duke of Gloucester (Mark Rylance) is determined that he should wear the crown of England. He has already despatched one king and that king’s son; now all that stand in his way are two credulous brothers and two helpless nephews – the Princes in the Tower. And woe betide those – the women he wrongs, the henchmen he betrays – who dare to raise a voice against him.  Monstrous, but theatrically electric, Richard is Shakespeare’s most charismatic, self-delighting villain, revelling at every moment in his homicidal, hypocritical journey to absolute power.  

 

Richard III is performed in an all-male Original Practices production, exploring clothing, music, dance and settings circa 1593.

 

 

The full cast for Twelfth Night is Samuel Barnett (Sebastian), Liam Brennan (Orsino), Paul Chahidi, (Maria), John Paul Connolly (Antonio), Ian Drysdale (Priest and Valentine), Peter Hamilton Dyer (Feste), Johnny Flynn (Viola), Stephen Fry (Malvolio), James Garnon (Fabian), Colin Hurley (Sir Toby Belch), Roger Lloyd Pack (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Mark Rylance (Olivia), Jethro Skinner (Captain and Officer) and Ben Thompson (Curio).

 

In the household of Olivia (Mark Rylance), two campaigns are being quietly waged – one by the lovelorn Duke Orsino against the heart of the indifferent Olivia; the other by an alliance of servants and hangers-on against the high-handedness of her steward, the pompous Malvolio (Stephen Fry). When Orsino engages the cross-dressed Viola to plead with Olivia on his behalf, a bittersweet chain of events follows.  Filled with a cast of unforgettable characters, Twelfth Night combines cruelty with high comedy and the pangs of unrequited love with some of the subtlest poetry and most exquisite songs Shakespeare ever wrote. 

 

This revival of the Globe’s 2002 award-winning Twelfth Night will be performed in an all-male Original Practices production, exploring clothing, music, dance and settings circa 1601.

 

Multi award-winning actor Mark Rylance was last in the West End at the Apollo Theatre playing Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron in the critically-acclaimed production of Jerusalem, a role he also played at the Royal Court and on Broadway.  Previously in the West End he played Valere in La Bête, Hamm in Samuel Beckett’s Endgame and Robert in Boeing-Boeing.  His other theatre work includes many productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Glasgow Citizens.  During his time as Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe his work as an actor included the title roles in Henry V and Hamlet as well as Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra and Olivia in Twelfth Night, a role he now recreates ten years on.  His film and television work includes The Other Boleyn Girl, Prospero’s Books, Angels and Insects, Leonardo and David Kelly in C4’s The Government Inspector for which he won the BAFTA Best Actor Award.   

 

Samuel Barnett created the role of Posner in Alan Bennett’s The History Boys, performing in the original production at the National Theatre, on Broadway and on the international tour. Barnett recently played opposite Jamie Parker in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at Chichester Festival Theatre and the Theatre Royal Haymarket.  His other National Theatre credits include Women Beware Women and His Dark Materials.  He was also seen in Dealer’s Choice in the West End.

 

Johnny Flynn played Lee opposite Mark Rylance in the West End run of Jerusalem.  He was a regular member of Edward Hall’s Propeller theatre company, acting in several productions including Twelfth Night.  His other theatre credits include Richard Bean’s The Heretic for the Royal Court. Flynn is also a successful recording artist, whose albums include Been Listening and A Larum.

 

Stephen Fry plays Olivia’s steward, Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Fry’s screen credits include Sherlock Holmes II, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Gosford Park, Peter’s Friends and Wilde, in which his portrayal of Oscar Wilde earned him a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination.  His many television drama and comedy credits include the BBC’s recent adaptation of The Borrowers, The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, Kingdom, Jeeves and Wooster, Blackadder and several series of A Bit of Fry and Laurie.  He has also appeared in many critically-acclaimed and much loved documentaries.

 

Roger Lloyd Pack plays the Duke of Buckingham in Richard III, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night.  Lloyd Pack is best known for his television roles as Trigger in Only Fools and Horses and Owen Newitt in The Vicar of Dibley.  His extensive stage credits include The Winterling at the Royal Court, The Dark at the Donmar and Widowers’ Houses at the Manchester Royal Exchange.  His film credits include Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Dagenham Girls and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

 

Richard III and Twelfth Night play in repertoire at Shakespeare’s Globe until 14 October 2012 prior to their West End transfer.