Northern Broadsides completes casting for King Lear

Northern Broadsides has completed casting King Lear around its artistic director, Barrie Rutter, who will play royally harrassed and hen-pecked father-of-three.

Directed by Jonathan Miller, Rutter will be joined in the cast by Manchester Theatre award winner Catherine Kinsella (Rutherford & Son) as Cordelia; Nicola Sanderson (Tis Pity She’s A Whore, Cheek by Jowl) as Regan; and Helen Sheals (Mrs Wigan in Downtown Abbey and The Jungle of Cities, Arcola Theatre) as Goneril.

The remaining cast is: John Branwell, Sean Cernow, Andy Cryer, Finetime Fontayne, John Gully, Josh Moran, Andrew Vincent, Jos Vantyler, Jack Wilkinson, Al Bollands and Rikki Hanson-Orr.

Jonathan Miller’s involvement in the production comes after the critical and award-winning success of his previous collaboration with NB in its production of Rutherford & Son.

Miller has previously directed the play for the Lincoln Center Theatre with Christopher Plummer, the Old Vic theatre featuring Eric Porter and also for the BBC with Michael Horden as Lear.

This will be the second time that NB has staged King Lear. The last time, in 1999, also saw Rutter in the lead role.

Tour dates 2015

February 27 – March 7, Viaduct Theatre, Halifax
March 10 – 14, Hull Truck Theatre
March 17 – 21, Theatre Royal Bath
March 24 – 28, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
April 8 – 18, West Yorkshire Playhouse
April 21-25, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
April 28 – May 2, Liverpool Playhouse
May 5 – 9, The Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester
May 12 – 16, York International Shakespeare Festival
May 19 – 23, Rose Theatre, Kingston
May 27 – June 13, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle under Lyme.