Young Vic announces casting for The Life of Galileo including Brendan Cowell

Brendan Cowell leads the cast of Brecht's drama.

The Young Vic Theatre have announced casting for their upcoming production of Brecht's The Life of Galileo which runs from 6 May to 24 June 2017.

Brendan Cowell will star in the title role alongside Billy Howle as Andrea, Paul Hunter as Sagredo and Anjana Vasan as Virginia, Ayesha Antoine, Jason Barnett, Joshua James, Bettrys Jones, Alex Murdoch, Brian Pettifer and Sarah Wright.

"Galileo Galilei: father, hero, heretic. When a chance discovery leads to evidence of a seismic shift in scientific thinking, Galileo sparks a dangerous dispute with authority. To challenge the idea that the earth is the centre of the universe is to challenge the all-powerful Roman Catholic Church."

Translated by John Willett this new production is directed by Joe Wright with designs by Lizzie Clachan, lighting by Jon Clark, sound by Tom Gibbons and projections by 59 Productions.

Brendan Cowell's theatre credits include: Yerma (Young Vic); The Wild Duck (Barbican, UK tour, Vienna and Amsterdam tour); Once in Royal David's City, Miss Julie (Belvoir, Sydney); The Dark Room, True West, Dissident, Goes Without Saying (Sydney Theatre Company) and MEN (Old Fitzroy).

Director Joe Wright returns to the Young Vic following his 2013 production of A Season in the Congo. His film credits include the six-time Oscar nominated 'Atonement', 'Pride & Prejudice' and 'Anna Karenina'. He is currently filming 'Darkest Hour', a drama about Winston Churchill's turbulent first weeks as Prime Minister during WWII.

Tickets for The Life of Galileo are now on sale.