Sir Kenneth Branagh has revealed that he is setting up a theatre company, with Dame Judi Dench, Rob Brydon and Lily James among stars set to perform in a season of plays.
It is to be named The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company and it will take up residency at London’s Garrick Theatre for a year in October.
The Cinderella director said he wanted “to have a creative home where you could do a programme of work, rather than just one-offs”. Well that makes a lot of sense to us and the news sounds very exciting.
The season will begin with THE WINTER’S TALE, starring Branagh and Dame Judi and in May 2016, James will star opposite her Cinderella co-star Richard Madden – largely recognised for his role as Robb Stark in GAME OF THRONES. The two will one again play star-crossed lovers, but this time it will be in ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by Sir Kenneth.
Other highlights include HARLEQUINADE, a little-known Terence Rattigan play about a theatre company performing The Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet, and the behind-the-scenes dramas that ensue.
In black comedy, THE PAINKILLER, Sir Kenneth and Rob Brydon will reprise the roles they played to acclaim at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre.
And late in 2016, Sir Kenneth will take on the lead role in John Osborne‘s THE ENTERTAINER, a role made famous by Sir Laurence Olivier.
This is certainly great news for fans of Sir Kenneth and his theatre work – and by the sounds of it, he will definitely be a busy man during the next 12 months!
THE WINTER’S TALEÂ will open on October 17th, 2015 until January 16th, 2016.
