The full cast has been announced for the premiere of Player Kings, the new adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, at Manchester Opera House (March 14-23) before a London season.
Joining the previously announced Ian McKellen as Sir John Falstaff are Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso, Romeo and Juliet) as Prince Hal and Richard Coyle (Ink and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) as Henry IV.
They are joined by Raphael Akuwudike (Prince John/Second Drawer); Sara Beharrell (Hotspur’s Servant/Snare/Davy); Samuel Edward-Cook (Hotspur/Pistol); Geoffrey Freshwater (Bardolph); James Garnon (Worcester/Silence); Alice Hayes (Messenger/Carrier); Henry Jenkinson (Harcourt); Nigel Lister (Northumberland/Francis; Annette McLaughlin (Warwick); Mark Monero (Peto); Hywel Morgan (Sir Walter Blunt); Joseph Mydell (Lord Chief Justice); Clare Perkins (Mistress Quickly); Daniel Rabin (Poins); David Semark (Vernon); David Shelley (Sheriff/Surrey); Robin Soans (Shallow); Tafline Steen (Tearsheet/Lady Percy) and Perry Williams (Page/Douglas/Thomas).
The production, adapted and directed by Robert Icke, opens at the New Wimbledon Theatre (March 1-9), then comes to the Opera House before moving to the West End's Noel Coward Theatre (April 1-June 22).
The adaptation, like several before it, brings together two of Shakespeare's great history plays. Hal wasn't born to be king but now it seems he will be. His father longs for him to leave behind his friends in the taverns of Eastcheap, most notably the infamous John Falstaff. War is on the horizon - but will Hal ever come good?
Info and tickets here