"Henry V" further casting announced

Further casting has been announced for Henry V, which opens at the Olivier Theatre, NT on 13 May 03, following previews from 6 May 03, and booking to 1 Jul 03.

The cast includes Adrian Lester (Henry V), Ian Hogg (King of France ), William Gaunt (Archbishop of Canterbury/Burgundy).

Adrian Lester's London stage credits include "Company" at the Donmar Warehouse and Albery in 1996, and "The Tregedy of Hamlet" at the Young Vic in 2001.

Ian Hogg has worked extensively for the Royal Shakespeare company including "As You Like It" in 2000; "Romeo and Juliet" in 2001, and "JUlius Caesar" in 2002, all at the Barbican.

William Gaunt's London stage credits include, "The Miracle Worker" at the Wyndham's in 1994, "Albert Speer" at the Lyttelton in 2000; "The Cherry Orchard" at the Cottesloe & Olivier in 2001; "Humble Boy" at the Cottesloe & Gielgud in 2001/02. His TV credits include the 60s series "The Champions", and most recently the BBC tv series "Next-of-Kin".

The show also features Penny Downie (Chorus), Jude Akuwudike (Pistol), Peter Blythe (Exeter), Robert Blythe (Fluellen), Tony Devlin (Warwick/MacMorris), Felicite Du Jeu (Princess Katherine), Jamie Harding (Le Fer), Robert Horwell (Nym), David Kennedy (Bardolph/Michael Williams), Adam Levy (Dauphin), Tom McKay (Scroop/Gloucester), Marian McLoughlin (Alice), Iain Mitchell (Constable of France), Cecilia Noble (Mistress Quickly/Mistress of France), Nick Sampson (Cambridge/Orleans), Faz Singhateh (Westmoreland), Rohan Siva (Mountjoy), Mark Springer (Grey/Bourbon), Russell Tovey (Boy), Tim Treloar (Bedford/Bates), David Weston (Bishop of Ely/Sir Thomas Erpingham), Rupert Wickham (Gower/French Ambassador)

This is the first production of Henry V, at the National.

It is directed by Nicholas Hytner, designed by Tim Hatley, with lighting by Mark Henderson.

A charismatic leader in the flush of youth commits his troops to war. The risks are huge; the cause debatable; and bloodshed certain

(photo (Adrian Lester) by Hugo Gendinning)