Ian McDiarmid and Jodie McNee to Lead Royal Shakespeare Company's A Life of Galileo

Full casting has been announced for Mark Ravenhill’s new translation of Bertolt Brecht’s A Life of Galileo, which runs at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from January 31, 2013 through March 30.

A Life of Galileo follows the famed 17th century scientist’s extraordinary clash with the church over his deduction that the earth orbits the sun. Ian McDiarmid will lead the cast in the title role, alongside Jodie McNee as Virginia. The cast also includes Gethin Anthony as Cardinal Bellarmin, Matthew Aubrey as Andrea, Adam Burton as Vanni, Jake Fairbrother as Ludovico, Joel Gillman as Little Monk, Nia Gwynne as First Scholar, Paul Hamilton as Federzoni, Siu Hun Li as Very Thin Monk, Joan Iyiola, Youssef Kerkour as Philosopher/Monk, Chris Lew Kum Hoi as Cosimo de Medici, Susan Momoko Hingley as Ballad Singer's Wife, Patrick Romer as Very Old Cardinal/Senator, James Tucker as Bursar, Martin Turner as Sagredo/Cardinal Inquisitor, Philip Whitchurch  as Cardinal Barberini/Ballad Singer and Sadie Shimmin as Mrs. Sarti.

Roxana Silbert will direct the production, which is part of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s A World Elsewhere trilogy of beloved classics that are newly adapted for the stage. The play will feature production design by Tom Scutt, music and sound by Nick Powell, movement by Struan Leslie and lighting by Rick Fisher.