Full cast announced for Hull Truck Theatre's open-air production of Romeo & Juliet
30 Jun 2021 | General News
£26 - £14 | Concessions available Written by William Shakespeare Richard McIver – MERCUTIO/PARIS/SOLDIER "It’s been hard keeping this a secret with such an amazing company. I had to restrain myself on multiple occasions because we were waiting for confirmation, and now that we have it, I can finally shout about it. Where to start? Live music is going to feature throughout thanks to Nick, who is not only returning to play multiple roles within the show – he will be the composer for the production as well. You might recognise a few more familiar faces from previous Hull Truck Theatre productions; Laura and Jordan were previously in The Hypocrite, and Laurie joins us fresh off his run as Prince Charming at Christmas. We are thrilled to welcome some exceptionally talented actors who haven’t worked with us before; Richard, EM, Carolyn and Amanda. I can’t wait to begin exploring this classic text with all of them.” "Our cultural sector is at the heart of our local communities providing not only entertainment but education and inspiration for many. Our Trustees were impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit shown across the arts in response to Covid-19 and it was a privilege to hear what organisations had been doing to not only survive but also to reinvent the way they reach audiences.” The show is also supported in kind by Wykeland Group. Tickets can be purchased here for live performances: https://www.hulltruck.co.uk/whats-on/drama/romeo-juliet/ See here for the Livestream on Sat 24 July at 7pm: https://www.hulltruck.co.uk/whats-on/drama/romeo-juliet-livestream/
Additionally, the show will be livestreamed on Sat 24 Jul and available to stream on-demand from Sun 25 Jul with prices starting from £10.
Joining the previously announced Romeo (Jordan Metcalfe) & Juliet (Laura Elsworthy) are a whole host of talented performers and creative team members, some new and some who will be familiar to Hull Truck Theatre audiences. Completing the ensemble are Richard McIver, EM Williams, Nicholas Goode, Carolyn Backhouse, Amanda Gordon and Laurie Jamieson. In this condensed version, most performers will play more than one character from Romeo & Juliet.
This summer, the streets of Verona are transported to Hull, as one of the greatest love stories ever told takes place in the breath-taking surroundings of Stage@TheDock. Use of set and props will be minimal, allowing the unique location and incredible troupe of performers to take centre stage. The costumes are designed with a 1940’s/50’s inspiration and there will be live music performed throughout thanks to Composer and Performer, Nicholas Goode.
CREATIVE TEAM
Adapted and Directed by Mark Babych
Costume Design | Siân Thomas
Composer | Nicholas Goode
Fight Director | Kenan Ali
Movement Director | Reaya Sealey
CAST
Originally hailing from Reno, Nevada and a 2020 Graduate from the MA Acting course at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Richard’s most recent theatre credits include: In the Blood (Richard Burton Company), Half-Full (Richard Burton Company/Royal Court Theatre), and LIFE COACH (National Theatre Wales).
EM Williams – BENVOLIO
Theatre credits include: Dream (Royal Shakespeare Company); My Brilliant Friend (National Theatre); Captain Corelli's Mandolin (West End); Dinosaur World Live (Regents Park Open Air); The Book of Dragons (York Theatre Royal); The Selfish Giant (Arcola Theatre); Les Enfants Terribles' Alice's Adventures Underground and Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke (New Diorama & AIIA Theatre, Tokyo).
Nicholas Goode – ESCALUS/FRIAR JOHN
Nicholas has worked extensively in theatre, performing in numerous productions as an actor, actor-musician, musical director and composer. Theatre credits include: The Nutcracker (Royal Albert Hall), To Kill a Mockingbird (Royal Exchange), As You Like It (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and more. Audiences will recognise him from previous Hull Truck Theatre Christmas shows; Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Treasure Island
Carolyn Backhouse – CAPULET
Theatre credits include work ranging across the West End, Royal Shakespeare Company, Repertory, London and Edinburgh Fringe and many National Tours. On film she has worked with John Irvin, Woody Allen and Neil Gaiman. TV credits include: Coronation Street, Midsommer Murders, Rosemary and Thyme and Man Down. Carolyn has also worked extensively on radio, frequently appearing in BBC Radio dramas.
Amanda Gordon – MONTAGUE/NURSE/APOTHECARY
Theatre credits include: Alice in Winterland (Rose Theatre Kingston); The Borrowers (Polka); Grimm Tales (South Bank); Will Harvey’s War(Cheltenham Everyman Theatre); The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui(Chichester Festival Theatre & West End); Privates on Parade(Michael Grandage Company); Wind in the Willows (West Yorkshire Playhouse); PFT Season 2010 & 2011; Jemima Puddleduck & Friends(Unicorn); Bombay Dreams (West End); One Dance Will Do (Theatre Royal Stratford East).
Laurie Jamieson – TYBALT/FRIAR LAWRENCE
Theatre credits include: The Last of the Pelican Daughters (The Wardrobe Ensemble); The Canary & the Crow (Middle Child Theatre: Edinburgh, Paines Plough at Stratford East, Arcola); Joan of Leeds(Breach Theatre); Thor & Loki (Vicky Graham Productions/House of Blakewell); Wendy & Peter (Edinburgh Lyceum); Little Malcolm and his Struggle Against the Eunuchs (Southwark Playhouse); Dyl (Old Red Lion); Red Wolf (The Vaults); Operation Black Antler (Blast Theory/Hydrocracker); Richard II(Willow Globe); Sleeping Beauty, Treasure Island and Prince Charming’s Christmas Cracker(Hull Truck Theatre).
Mark Babych, Artistic Director at Hull Truck Theatre
Philippa Charles, Director of Weston Culture Fund
Romeo & Juliet is supported by the Weston Culture Fund grant by charitable foundation, Garfield Weston. Hull Truck Theatre were selected as one of 100 national arts organisations to be in receipt of the grant, which enables the delivery of exciting new projects like this.
On-demand streaming available here from Sun 25 July: https://www.hulltruck.co.uk/whats-on/drama/romeo-juliet-on-demand/
