Complete Cast Announced For Old Vic’s Much Ado with a Twist, Starring Vanessa Redgrave & James Earl Jones

Speak low if you speak love! Beth Cooke, Lloyd Everitt, Alan David and more complete casting for the previously announced London production of Much Ado About Nothing, starring Tony-winning stage and screen stars Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones. Directed by Tony winner Mark Rylance, Much Ado About Nothing will begin performances September 9, with opening night set for September 19 at the Old Vic Theatre.

The new production will offer a new twist on the classic Shakespeare comedy: Redgrave and Jones will portray quarreling lovers Beatrice and Benedick, respectfully, roles that are usually taken on by younger actors. Jones is 82 and Redgrave is 76.

In addition to Redgrave and Jones, Much Ado About Nothing will feature Cooke (King Lear) as Hero, Everitt as Claudio (Chariots of Fire) as Claudio, David (Jerusalem) as Antonio, Tim Barlow (King Lear) as Verges, Penelope Beaumont as Ursula (The Only True History of Lizzie Finn), Kingsley Ben-Adir (God’s Property) as Borachio, Katherine Carlton (Much Ado About Nothing) as Beryl, Michael Elwyn (The Audience) as Leonato, James Garnon (The Tempest) as Don Pedro, Melody Grove (The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart) as Margaret, Trevor Laird (One Man, Two Guvnors) as Conrade, Leroy Osei-Bonsu (Moby Dick) as Messenger, Mark Ross (Michael’s Story as Sexton, Peter Wight (Trelawny of the Wells) as Dogberry and Friar Francis and Danny Lee Wynter (Henry IV) as Don John.

Much Ado About Nothing features design by Ultz, lighting by Mimi Jordan Sherin, music by Claire van Kampen, sound by Emma Laxton and movement by Sian Williams.