Four Lions star Adeel Akhtar, musical theatre regular Sally Dexter and Sherlock actress Vinette Robinson are all to join Hollywood star Michael Sheen in the Young Vic’s autumn production of Hamlet.
Akhtar is to play Guildenstern/Francisco, Dexter will play Gertrude and Robinson will take the role of Ophelia in the Ian Rickson-directed production that begins its run at the Southwark venue on 28 October.
Also among the impressive cast are Told By An Idiot founder Hayley Carmichael (Horatio), James Clyde (Claudius), Callum Dixon (Marcellus), Pip Donaghy (Barnardo), Michael Gould (Polonius), Eileen Walsh (Rosencrantz) and Benedict Wong (Laertes).
Sheen’s London outing as the troubled Danish prince is one of the most eagerly anticipated performances of the autumn. His reputation, built on performances in films including The Queen and The Damned United, and in stage productions such as Amadeus, Caligula and Look Back In Anger, make his portrayal of Shakespeare’s most famous character an enticing proposition.
Director Rickson, whose credits include Jerusalem, The Children’s Hour and Betrayal, is making his Shakespeare debut with this production of Hamlet. He leads a creative team that also includes designer Jeremy Herbert, costume designer Nicky Gillibrand and choreographer Maxine Doyle, associate director of acclaimed site-specific theatre company Punchdrunk.
Hamlet opens at the Young Vic’s main house following the revival of acclaimed musical Street Scene, which runs from 15 September to 1 October.
MA