AN UPCOMING play set to show in one of Reading’s prestigious venues has announced its cast, including a few famous faces.
RABBLE Theatre has put faces to names for its upcoming production of Beth Flintoff’s Henry I.
Company co-founder and co-artistic director Toby W. Davies returns to the titular role after having been part of the award-winning productions of the play back in 2016.
Off West End nominee Joseph Black is joins the cast as Roger following appearances in a number of productions with GB Theatre Company and The Duke Theatre.
He also took part in 10 productions with the National Youth Theatre before training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre.
Amy Conachan, best recognised for her role as Courtney Campbell in Hollyoaks, is taking up the role of Adela, Countess of Blois, Henry’s older sister.
It follows recent stage appearances with the National Theatre of Scotland and on STV.
Matthew Douglas will appear as Lord Robert de Belleme after roles in West End productions of An Inspector Calls as well as with The National Theatre and The Young Vic.
He has also appeared in Netflix’s The Stranger, Outlander, Tremors, and Miracle on the Hudson.
Anjellica Serra will take up the roles of Agnes of Ponthieu and Juliana of Breteuil, fresh from her appearance in Sky and HBO’s 2022 horror comedy The Baby.
Gabrielle Sheppard will portray William Rufus and William Atheling following appearances in BBC and Amazon’s The Outlaws and Mammals.
Rounding out the cast is Mark Middleton as Robert Curthose.
Georgie Fellows also stars as both Queen Edith and Mabel, returning to RABBLE Theatre following her appearance in the original production in 2016.
After her time as an actor-intern with the company, Ms Fellows moved on to train with the Welsh College of Music as well as acting at The Royal Court and at the Sam Wannamaker Festival.
“My first connection with RABBLE began as a green teen intern in this exciting production of Henry I back in 2016.
“Six years on, I’m thrilled to be involved again with this vibrant historical play– I can’t wait to work with this brilliant team again and their innovative ideas.”
The play takes place in the wake of the death of William the Conqueror as his son is left with nothing.
A scramble for power over England ensues, in which Henry finds himself increasingly entangled desperate for stability.
The production is staged in Reading’s historic Abbey, metres from where King Henry I was buried, before moving to The Great Hall of Winchester, where he was crowned.
The run will end at The Actor’s Church in Covent Garden.
RABBLE have also partnered with Make/Sense Theatre who specialise in working with SEND members of the community to offer two paid acting internships, funded by The Worshipful Company of Grocers.
RABBLE’s Henry I is showing at Reading Abbey from Thursday, June 15, to Saturday, July 1, and in Winchester and London’s Covent Garden in mid-July.
Full details of productions and access to tickets is available via: rabbletheatre.com
