CASTING has now been announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s summer productions of The Merchant of Venice and Othello, running in repertoire in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and broadcast worldwide in ‘Live from Stratford-upon-Avon’.
Makram J Khoury, one of the most celebrated actors in Israel, will be making his RSC debut to play Shylock in Polly Findlay’s production of The Merchant of Venice.
The Palestinian-Israeli actor has worked on stage and screen for over 50 years. He was awarded the 2014 Jerusalem Film Festival’s Achievement Award and the Israel Prize for acting, regarded as the state’s highest honour.
His credits include international films such as Fatih Akin’s The Cut, which was nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival 2014, Steven Spielberg’s Munich, Natalie Portman’s Amos Oz adaptation A Tale of Love and Darkness, and Richard Raymond’s Iran-set Desert Dancer, as well as Israeli comedy Sukaryot and Magic Men, for which he won an Israeli Film Academy award for best actor.
His extensive theatre and TV credits include touring with Peter Brook’s theatre production 11 and 12 and Channel 4’s BAFTA winning drama Complicit.
Joining Makram, and also making her RSC debut in the role of Portia, is Patsy Ferran, who was winner of Most Promising Newcomer at this year’s Critics’ Circle Awards.
Patsy is currently playing Jim Hawkins in the National Theatre’s production of Treasure Island, also directed by Polly Findlay. Her other credits include Blithe Spirit (Gielgud Theatre West End) and The Angry Brigade (Paines Plough).
As previously announced Hugh Quarshie and Lucian Msamati return to the RSC to play Othello and Iago in Iqbal Khan’s production.
Joining them in the role of Desdemona is Joanna Vanderham, who is another making her RSC debut. Joanna, best known for playing the lead character of ‘Denise Lovett’ in BBC’s The Paradise, has also starred in feature film What Maisie Knew and BBC drama Dancing on the Edge.
The Merchant of Venice opens on May 14 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Othello on June 4 with runs until September 2 and August 28 respectively.
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