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Home , Edward Bond, Emma Cunniffe, Natalie Abrahami, Queen Anne (play), Richard Hope (actor), Samuel Adamson

PRESS RELEASE 08.05.17

TRH Productions, Scott Landis, Tulchin Bartner Productions and Zeilinger Productions present the Royal Shakespeare Company Production of

QUEEN ANNE www.RSCQueenAnne.com / @RSCQueenAnne / #RSCQueenAnne

 FURTHER CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR AT ROYAL HAYMARKET

 QUEEN ANNE WILL FROM 30 JUNE UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER 2017, TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE AT WWW.RSCQUEENANNE.COM

 IMAGES CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE USERNAME: QueenAnne PASSWORD: QueenAnne

Romola Garai will star as Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough alongside as the eponymous monarch in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Queen Anne.

Completing the cast will be Daisy Ashford as Lady Clarendon, Sheena Bhattessa as Lady Somerset, Gabrielle Brooks as Jezebel and Lady Russell, Dave Fishley as King William III and Groom, Jonny Glynn as , Chu Omambala as John Churchill and Sid Sagar as Samuel Masham and Inns of Court Singer.

They join the previously announced Jonathan Christie (), Michael Fenton Stevens (Dr John Radcliffe), James Garnon (Robert Harley), (Sidney Godolphin), Hywel Morgan (Prince George), Beth Park (Abigail Hill) and Carl Prekopp ().

Queen Anne originally opened at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in November 2015. It will transfer to for a thirteen week limited run from 30 June until 30 September, with a press night on 10 July. Tickets are now on sale at www.RSCQueenAnne.com.

Written by (The Heresy of Love, RSC) and directed by (, ), this gripping new play explores the life of one of England’s little-known sovereigns and her intimate friendship with her childhood confidante Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. A timely production for turbulent political climes, the reign of Queen Anne saw the rise of the free press as well as the Act of Union between England and Scotland.

Daisy Ashford will play Lady Clarendon. Daisy trained at LAMDA and her theatre credits include Love for Love, Queen Anne (both RSC), The Middlemarch Trilogy, Adam Bede, The Twelve Pound Look, The Skin Game, Diana of Dobson’s, Playgoers and The Beggars Opera (all Orange Tree Theatre), The Rivals (Theatre Royal Bath/ No1 UK Tour), All You Ever Needed (Hampstead/Royal Court), Quality Street (Finborough), Antigone () and The Norman Conquests (Sherringham). In addition to her work on stage, Daisy’s television credits include Wallander, Spotless, Bonekickers and Like Father Like Son and her film appearances include Jack Ryan, Captain America and The Sweeter Side of Life. In addition to this, Daisy has appeared on radio in Ruth and Love Lessons (Radio 4), and several audio plays (Big Finish).

Sheena Bhattessa will play Lady Somerset. Sheena’s theatre credits include (National Theatre), My Generation (West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Great Game: Afghanistan (The Tricycle – Olivier Award Nomination), Lotus Beauty (The Gate) and The Lemon Tree (The World’s End Theatre). Sheena has appeared on screen in films including Canaries, Love Aaj Kal, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Take 2. Her television credits include Ransom, Midsomer Murders, Doctors, EastEnders, Whitechapel and The Fixer.

Gabrielle Brooks will play Jezebel and Lady Russell. Gabrielle’s theatre credits include Lazarus (Kings Cross Theatre), Everybody's Talking About Jamie ( Crucible), Red Snapper (Belgrade Theatre), The Strangers Case (Liverpool Everyman), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales), I Can’t Sing ( Palladium), Hairspray (UK No 1 Tour/ Stage Entertainment), Our House (Savoy), Avenue Q (UK No 1 Tour/ Cameron Mackintosh). Gabrielle has also appeared in workshops for Synergy Play (Theatre 503), Perfect Pitch (St James Theatre), Becoming Nancy (Playful Productions), Big Fish (ATG), Love Me Tender (Adam Spiegel). Gabrielle has appeared on screen in the film Notes on a Scandal, as well as Paul O’Grady Show and Coming Down The Mountain.

Dave Fishley will play King William III and Groom. Dave’s theatre credits include (Theatre Severn), Treasure Island and Of Mice And Men ( Rep), , As You Like It and All’s Well That Ends Well (all RSC), Taming of the Shrew (Southwark Playhouse), Rough Crossings (UK Tour), The Odyssey (Lyric Hammersmith/Bristol Old Vic/Tour), Macbeth (Out of Joint), Paradise Lost (RNT Studio), The Special Relationship (UK Tour), Dido, Queen of Carthage (The Globe), Crime and Punishment in Dalston (Arcola), Caledonia Road (Almeida), The Nativity (Young Vic), (Nuffield Southampton), Eritrea The Other War (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Marat/Sade (RNT), Silver Face and Ballad of Wolves (Gate), Now You Know (Hampstead), The Tempest (), Asylum! Asylum! (Abbey Theatre Dublin), Smoke (Royal Exchange), Macbeth and The Tempest (ESC). In addition to his work in theatre, Dave has also appeared on film in Bridget Jones’ Diary, The Man with Rain in His Shoes, The Fifth Element and Solitaire for Two. His television credits include Moses Jones, Casualty, Judge John Deed, Macbeth, Between the Lines (BBC), See How They Run (KEO Films), Buried (World), (Thames TV), A Touch of Frost (Yorkshire TV).

Jonny Glynn will play Jonathan Swift. Jonny trained at The Centre and his credits for the RSC include Henry IV Parts I & II, Two Gentlemen of Verona, , Romeo and Juliet, The Blue Angel, Measure for Measure and King John. Jonny’s further theatre credits include Richard II, (Shakespeare’s Globe), Coriolan/Us (National Theatre Wales), Lucky Seven (Hampstead Theatre), Pera Palas (The Gate), Arcadia and Amy’s View (Manchester Library Theatre), Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo (Lyric Hammersmith), Lady Windermere’s Fan (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Rivals, I Have Been Here Before, Tartuffe, The Count of Monte Cristo and Crimes of the Heart (all Royal Exchange), Hamlet (Birmingham Rep), The Taming of the Shrew (West Yorkshire Playhouse), The Merchant of Venice (English Shakespeare Company), Gawaine and the Green Knight (), The Broken Heart (Arts Threshold) and The New Apartment (Waterman Arts Centre). In addition to his work on stage, Jonny’s television credits include The Fixer, Clocking Off, The Bill, Heartbeat and Moll Flanders, he has also appeared on film in Submarine and in the Video Game The Witcher.

Chu Omambala will play John Churchill. Chu trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and his theatre credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, , The Canterbury Tales (all RSC), Intimate Apparel (Theatre Royal Bath/Park Theatre), King (Chichester Festival Theatre/BAM New York), Sunset Baby (), Danton’s Death, Women Beware Women, Statement of Regret, Candide, The Darker Face of the Earth, The Merchant of Venice, Troilus and Cressida (all National Theatre), Twelfth Night (Liverpool Playhouse), Bedroom Farce (West Yorkshire Playhouse), Macbeth (Out of Joint), Edward II, Richard II, Macbeth (all The Globe) and Arabian Nights (Young Vic). In addition to his work on stage, Chu’s television credits include Midsomer Murders, Liar, Houdini & Doyle, Lucky Man, Common, Wolfblood, Treasure Island, Spooks, Casualty, Doctors, The Bill, Whistleblower, Doctor Who, Judge John Deed, , Richard II, White Teeth, Doomwatch. Chu has also appeared on film in The Merchant of Venice and The Seventh Scroll and his radio credits include Troilus and Cressida, The Duel, Arabian Nights and Old Letters.

Sid Sagar will play Samuel Masham and Inns of Court Singer. Sid trained with the National Youth Theatre and Identity School of Acting and read History at the University of Bristol. Sid’s theatre credits include The Invisible Hand (Tricycle Theatre), The Tempest, , The Oresteia, The Taming of the Shrew (all Shakespeare’s Globe), Treasure (Finborough Theatre), (UK Tour), True Brits (HighTide/Edinburgh/), Eternal Love (English Touring Theatre/Shakespeare’s Globe) and Orpheus and Eurydice (National Youth Theatre). Sid’s short play, Raj, was produced by Little Pieces of Gold at the Southwark Playhouse in 2016. In addition to his work in theatre, Sid has also appeared on screen in EastEnders, Career of Evil, The Hollow Crown and The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies. His film credits include Murder on the Orient Express, Ready Player One and Karma Magnet and Sid has also appeared on radio in ECCo (BBC Radio 4).

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The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION.

The work of the RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST. ENDS

For further information about Queen Anne please contact Sara Sherwood at The Corner Shop PR: [email protected] / 0207 831 7657

LISTINGS INFORMATION

TRH Productions, Scott Landis, Tulchin Bartner Productions and Zeilinger Productions present the Royal Shakespeare Company Production of Queen Anne Written by Helen Edmundson Directed by Natalie Abrahami

Theatre Royal Haymarket, Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4HT Box Office: 020 7930 8800 Tickets now on general sale at www.RSCQueenAnne.com

30 June – 30 September 2017 Press Night: 10 July, 7pm

Performances run Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinee performances on Thursday and Saturday at 2.30pm.

There will be a captioned performance of Queen Anne on Wednesday 9 August and an audio- described performance on Wednesday 2 August.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets begin at £15

£10 Day Seats will be available from 10am on the day of the performance only through the Theatre Royal Haymarket box office and must be purchased in person. A limited number of £5 tickets for 16-25 year olds will be available from 10am on the day of the performance only at the Theatre Royal Haymarket box office. Proof of ID will be required. Day Seats will not be available on Press Night.

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

The Royal Shakespeare Company creates theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world. We produce an inspirational artistic programme each year, setting Shakespeare in context, alongside the work of his contemporaries and today’s writers.

Everyone at the RSC - from actors to armourers, musicians to technicians - plays a part in creating the world you see on stage. All our productions begin life at our Stratford workshops and and we bring them to the widest possible audience through our touring, residencies, live broadcasts and online activity. So wherever you experience the RSC, you experience work made in Shakespeare’s home town.

We have trained generations of the very best theatre makers and we continue to nurture the talent of the future. We encourage everyone to enjoy a lifelong relationship with Shakespeare and live theatre. We reach 530,000 children and young people annually through our education work, transforming their experiences in the classroom, in performance and online.

Registered charity no. 212481 www.rsc.org.uk.

TRH PRODUCTIONS

Theatre Royal Haymarket Productions’ most recent credits include:

In 2007, a season under the Artistic Directorship of : Wycherley’s The Country Wife; Edward Bond’s ; and Marguerite. In 2009-2010, a season led by : Beckett’s Waiting For Godot starring Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart and Ronald Pickup; and Samuel Adamson’s adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In 2011-2012, a season led by Sir Trevor Nunn: Flare Path starring Sienna Miller, James Purefoy and Sheridan Smith; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead with Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker; The Tempest starring Ralph Fiennes and Nicholas Lyndhurst; and James Goldman’s The Lion in Winter starring Robert Lindsay and Joanna Lumley.

In 2011: Pygmalion, starring Rupert Everett and Kara Tointen. In 2013: Barking in Essex starring Lee Evans, Sheila Hancock and Keeley Hawes. In 2014: James Dearden’s Fatal Attraction, starring Natasha McElhone, Mark Bazeley and Kristin Davis; and ’s Daytona starring Maureen Lipman, Harry Shearer and Cotton himself. In 2015: Mark Hayhurst’s Taken At Midnight starring Penelope Wilton. In 2016: Stephen Jeffreys’ The Libertine starring Dominic Cooper; and the RSC productions of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing.

Recent overseas tours have included: Waiting For Godot in Australia and New Zealand, and The Last Confession starring David Suchet and Brian Bedford in Canada, America and Australia. www.trh.co.uk