Helen - full cast confirmed at Shakespeare's Globe includes Penny Downie & Paul McGann

Helen - full cast confirmed at Shakespeare's Globe includes Penny Downie & Paul McGann

The full cast has been confirmed for the world premiere of Frank McGuinness' new version of Euripides' Helen, which opens at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre 5 Aug 2009, following previews from 2 Aug - runnng to 23 Aug 2009.

As previously mentioned, Penny Downie will be play the title role of Helen. Her recent stage roles include Gertrude in Hamlet and Penelope in The Penelopiad (both for the RSC) and Dinner (National Theatre/West End). Paul McGann will play Menelaus. His first major role was as Percy Topliss in the BBC series The Monocled Mutineer. Best known for his role in Withnail and I and for portraying the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 Doctor Who television movie, Paul's theatre work includes Morning Becomes Electra (National Theatre).

The cast also includes Holly Atkins, Philip Cumbus, Jack Farthing, Diveen Henry, James Lailey, Penny Layden, Fergal McElherron, Rawiri Paratene, William Purefoy, Ian Redford, Ukweli Roach, Tom Stuart, Graham Vick, Andrew Vincent.

It is directed by Deborah Bruce and designed by Gideon Davey.

Seven years have passed since the end of the Trojan War and Menelaus, King of Sparta and husband to Helen, is making his slow and painful way home. When his ship is wrecked on the coast of Egypt he stumbles upon what seems to be his wife lingering outside the royal palace. But if this is the real Helen, who was the beautiful woman stolen by Paris, for whom all Greece took up arms? Did Troy fall for nothing? Has it all been some god's idea of a joke?