Tim McMullan and Pippa Nixon will return to Shakespeare’s Globe to lead the cast of The Tempest in 2016, while fellow returnee John Light will be joined by Globe newcomers Rachael Stirling and Niamh Cusack in The Winter’s Tale.
Light, who has previously performed outside at the Globe, moves inside to the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse for the first time in the new year to play Leontes from 28 January. The actor, who received an Olivier Award nomination for his performance in Taken At Midnight, is joined by the twice Olivier nominated Stirling as his long-suffering wife Hermione with Cusack (The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, His Dark Materials) as Paulina.
Often seen as somewhat of a ‘problem play’, the Globe’s staging of this tale of jealousy, suspicion, retribution, love and magic will be the second to come to London in recent months following the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company production.
McMullan takes the lead in the final show to be directed by Dominic Dromgoole during his tenure as Artistic Director of the iconic venue, returning to the Globe for the first time since 2009’s As You Like It to play Prospero.
The actor, currently performing in the Hampstead Theatre’s hit production of Hapgood, will be joined by Nixon as Prospero’s spirit Ariel. Her last Globe outing came in another magic-filled production, 2008’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Tempest, which runs from 17 February, and The Winter’s Tale join current shows Cymbeline and Pericles in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse’s winter season of late Shakespeare plays.