Kinnear, Martin and Miles Cast in Almeida's Measure for Measure

By Mark Shenton
25 Sep 2009

Rory Kinnear, Anna Maxwell Martin and Ben Miles
Rory Kinnear, Anna Maxwell Martin and Ben Miles

Rory Kinnear, Anna Maxwell Martin and Ben Miles have been cast as Angelo, Isabella and the Duke, respectively, in the Almeida's previously announced production of Measure for Measure.

The production will begin performances Feb. 11, 2010, prior to an official opening Feb. 18, for a run through April 10. Almeida artistic director Michael Attenborough directs, with designs by Lez Brotherston, lighting by David Hersey, music by Stephen Warbeck, sound by John Leonard and movement by Imogen Knight.

Set in a Vienna dominated by the sex trade, Shakespeare's Measure for Measure is described in press materials as a play of political intrigue and moral responsibility. Vincentio, the Duke (Miles), seeks to return order to his city. He announces that he is to travel abroad and appoints the strait laced Angelo (Kinnear) in his place. Vincentio secretly disguises himself as a friar to keep a watchful eye on the new regime. When Isabella (Martin), a novice nun, finds her brother is sentenced to death for a sexual misdemeanour she visits Angelo to beg for his life.

Kinnear has previously appeared in the transfer of the Almeida's production of Festen to the West End. He was most recently seen onstage at the National in Burnt by the Sun; he will also star as Hamlet there under the direction of Nicholas Hytner as part of the 2010 £10 season in the Olivier Theatre. He has also previously appeared at the National in The Revenger's Tragedy, Southwark Fair, Man of Mode (for the latter he won the Ian Charleson Award and the Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role) and Philistines (for which he also won the Ian Charleson Award). On film he was seen in "Wild Target" and "Quantum of Solace."

Maxwell Martin's stage credits include playing Sally Bowles in Rufus Norris' production of Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre and Molly in The Female of the Species at the Vaudeville. She has also appeared extensively at the National (including His Dark Materials and The Coat of Utopia trilogy) and Royal Court. Her TV credits include BAFTA Award-winning roles in "Poppy Shakespeare" and "Bleak House."

Miles was last on stage in Matthew Warchus' production of The Norman Conquests trilogy, first at the Old Vic and subsequently reprising his performance at Broadway's Circle in the Square. Other theatre credits include My Child for the Royal Court, Bollingbroke in Richard II for the Old Vic and appearances at the National and RSC. He was previously seen at the Almeida in The Tower.

Director Attenborough – who was formerly principal associate director at the RSC, where his productions included Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Antony and Cleopatra and Henry IV parts I and II — has directed The Mercy Seat, Five Gold Rings, Brighton Rock, The Late Henry Moss, Enemies, There Came A Gypsy Riding, Big White Fog, Awake and Sing!, The Homecoming, In a Dark Dark House and When the Rain Stops Falling at the Almeida.

Public booking for Measure for Measure opens Nov. 12. To book tickets, contact the box office at 020 7359 4404 or visit www.almeida.co.uk.