Casting announced for Kenneth Branagh's The Winter's Tale & Harlequinade

Further casting has been announced for The Winter's Tale and Harlequinade which run in rep at the Garrick Theatre, opening the inaugural season of the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company.

The cast includes Jessie Buckley as Perdita and Muriel Palmer, Miranda Raison as Hermione and Edna Selby, Tom Bateman as Florizel and Jack Wakefield and Hadley Fraser as Polixenes and First Halberdier, 

UPDATE: Jack Colgrave Hirst will play the Clown and Tom Palmer, Michael Pennington will play Anitgonus, Zoe Rainey will play Emilia, John Shrapnel will play Camillo and George Chudleigh, Kathryn Wilder will play Mopsa and Joyce Langland and Jimmy Yuill will play the Shepherd and Mr Burton.

They join the previously announced Kenneth Branagh as Leontes and Arthur Gosport, with Judi Dench playing Paulina in The Winter’s Tale.

Review: Strangers On A Train at the Gielgud Theatre

Strangers On A Train
Gielgud Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 20th November 2013

It feels like a while since I've sat in a West End theatre and watched a well put together, gripping thriller. Many are familiar with Strangers On A Train as Alfred Hitchcock’s film version was very popular when released in 1951. However, the stage play, based on Patricia Highsmith's novel which was published in 1950, goes in a different direction to Hitchcock’s film.

Interview: Miranda Raison

Miranda Raison is currently starring as Anne in Strangers On A Train at the Gielgud Theatre which officially opens on Tuesday 19th November 2013. 

Miranda has enjoyed a varied career spanning film and TV as well as theatre. She is well known for playing Jo Portman in Spooks and Harriet Hammond in Silk. Miranda has recently filmed two movies, After Death and I Am Soldier, which are due to be released next year.

Her theatre credits include: The River (Royal Court), The Physicists (Donmar Warehouse), 66 Books: A Response To Daniel (The Bush Theatre) and Shakespeare’s Globe’s productions of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.

Miranda’s film credits include: My Week With Marilyn, Heaven And Earth, Match Point, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Susie Q. Her TV credits include: Lewis: Intelligent Design, Vexed, Sinbad, Dirk Gently, Merlin, Death In Paradise, Sugartown, Married Single Other, Plus One, Poirot: Cat Among The Pigeons, Doctor Who, Holby City and Perfect Strangers.

Recently I spoke to Miranda about how she prepared for her role in Strangers On A Train, first night nerves and why theatre is so important to her...

What was it that attracted you to the role and production?

Everything that was in the first email and onwards really! I love the American Fifties time period and anything that looks vaguely Hitchcock and also it’s a fantastic part. It’s a very different part to the role in the film, she plays a much greater part in Guy and Bruno’s lives and she’s a society girl. Patricia Highsmith was ahead of her time. You would usually think that the posh fiancée would be a doormat but she’s a really interesting character and a very clever woman.