Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce casting for Matthew Dunster’s Much Ado About Nothing. Set in revolutionary Mexico in 1910, the production stars Beatriz Romilly as Beatrice, Matthew Needham as Benedick, Anya Chalotra as Hero, Marcello Cruz as Claudio and Martin Marquez as Leonato.
Beatriz Romilly plays Beatrice, having previously starred in the Globe’s productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry VI Pt I, II & III, The God of Soho and Doctor Faustus. Other recent theatre includes French Without Tears (Orange Tree Theatre / ETT), After Independence (Arcola Theatre) and The Duchess of Malfi (Nottingham Playhouse). Television includes Shakespeare Uncovered: Othello (Sky Arts) and Doctors (BBC).
Benedick will be played by Matthew Needham. Matthew took the lead role in Stutterer, which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, and was nominated for an Ian Charleston Award for his role in Wilton Music Hall’s Brittanicus. His previous work for the Globe includes Imogen, The Comedy of Errors, Titus Andronicus and The Knight of the Burning Pestle. He has worked extensively at the RSC, with credits including Henry IV Pt I & II, Love’s Sacrifice, The Jew of Malta, Titus Andronicus and Candide. Other recent theatre includes The Treatment (Almeida Theatre), There is a War (National Theatre) and Shades(Royal Court). His screen credits include Endeavour, Monroe (ITV), The Hollow Crown Part 2 and Sherlock (BBC).
Martin Marquez plays Leonato. Martin’s previous work for the Globe includes Imogen, and his other theatre credits include Before I Leave (National Theatre Wales), Husbands and Sons, Mother Courage (National Theatre), Blasted(Sheffield Crucible) and The Crucible (West Yorkshire Playhouse). His recent film credits include Dead Water, Les Miserables and The Business.
Hero and Claudio are Anya Chalotra and Marcello Cruz. A recent graduate, Anya’s credits while training include The Same Deep Water as Me, Great Expectations, The Crucible and The Merchant of Venice (Guildhall School of Music and Drama). Marcello Cruz’s recent television includes Outnumbered (BBC One). His theatre credits while training include Julius Caesar, Dealer’s Choice, Go Make You Ready, Mephisto, Richard II and The Trojan Women (Guildhall School of Music and Drama).
The role of Don Pedro will be played by Steve John Shepherd. Steve’s recent theatre includes Plastic (Theatre Royal Bath), A View from Islington North (Out of Joint), Bomber’s Moon (Trafalgar Studios), Albion (Bush Theatre) and Piaf (Donmar Warehouse / Vaudeville Theatre). His screen credits include Silent Witness, Waking the Dead (BBC), Entebbe and Star Wars Episode II. Jo Dockery will play Juana. Jo’s recent theatre credits include Any Means Necessary (Nottingham Playhouse), Great Britain (National Theatre / Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (Apollo Theatre), Timon of Athens and Antigone (National Theatre).
Dog Berry is played by Ewan Wardrop, returning to the Globe after last year’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and 946 – The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips. His other recent theatre includes Rebecca (Kneehigh / UK tour), Enron (Royal Court / Noel Coward Theatre / UK Tour), Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! (Sadler’s Wells), The Carman (The Old Vic), Cinderella (West End) and Swan Lake (Broadway).
Matthew Dunster is an Olivier Award-nominated director, a writer and actor. His recent directing credits include Imogen at the Globe, Hangmen (Royal Court and West End), Love’s Sacrifice (RSC), The Seagull (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) and Liberian Girl (Royal Court). This summer his adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities will premiere at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
The full cast comprises Doreene Blackstock, Ashley Campbell, Anya Chalotra, Marcello Cruz, Oliver Cudbill, Charlie de Melo, Jo Dockery, Martin Marquez, Matthew Needham, Ammara Niwaz, Beatriz Romilly, Sarah Seggari, Steve John Shepherd and Ewan Wardrop.
