Full casting announced for T.S. Eliot’s MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL in Richmond

Orange Tree Theatre (OT) have announced the full cast for their major revival of T.S. Eliot’s classic Murder in the Cathedral, presented in Richmond’s St John the Divine Church from 12 October - 7 November.

Directed by OT’s Artistic Director Tom Littler with the OT’s Community Director, Francesca Ellis, Murder in the Cathedral will then transfer to Theatre Royal Bath.

Joining the previously announced David Suchet as Thomas Becket will be: Mensah Bediako (Miss Myrtle’s Garden, Bush Theatre) as Third Priest, Ben Caplan (Sunny Afternoon, UK tour) as Second Tempter/Second Knight, Paul Hickey (Reykjavik, Hampstead Theatre) as Second Priest, Jyuddah Jaymes (Sherlock Holmes, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as First Tempter/First Knight, Michael Lyle (Twelfth Night, RSC) as First Priest, Nick Sampson (Richard II, Bridge Theatre) as Third Tempter/Third Knight, Jad Sayegh (Plays from Palestine, Royal Court Theatre) as Messenger, and David Yelland (And Then There Were None, UK tour) as Fourth Tempter/Fourth Knight.

In Richmond, the Chorus will be led by Sally Cheng (My Neighbour Totoro, West End), Sonya Cullingford (The BFG, RSC), Chyna-Rose Frederick (Clueless, West End), and Rebecca Thorn (Elektra, West End), who will then be joined in Bath by Rebecca Askew (Eyam, Shakespeare’s Globe), Florence Dobson (Anna Karenina, Chichester Festival Theatre), Samantha Dorsey (I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical, Gilded Balloon), Beatrice John (As You Like It, UK tour), Yuki Sutton (The Baddies, UK tour), and Hannah Whitehouse (Tim Rice: My Life in Musicals, UK tour). For the performances in Richmond, the Women of Canterbury will be played by a community ensemble.

OT’s Artistic Director Tom Littler said: “It's a particular pleasure to welcome this exceptional company to join David Suchet, who leads the production as Becket. Murder in the Cathedral is one of the great achievements of twentieth century verse drama, and Eliot's questions of conscience and power feel as urgent now as when he wrote them. I'm especially proud that our Women of Canterbury will be played by members of our community ensemble, continuing the Orange Tree's commitment to building genuine links with the people and communities around us. This is set to be a truly special production, and I can't wait for audiences to experience it.”

For good or ill, let the wheel turn.

1170. A nation divided. Once the best of friends, King Henry II and his Archbishop, Thomas Becket, are now mortal enemies. Ignoring his allies’ fears, Becket, the ‘turbulent priest’, returns to Canterbury, tempting the monarch’s wrath. As the women of Canterbury seek shelter in the sacred space of the cathedral, four knights ride out on a deadly mission.

The only question: who will blink first?

The creative team also includes set designer Rob Jones, costume designer Cat Fuller, lighting designer Peter Mumford, sound designer and associate music director Max Pappenheim, music director Michael Waldron, composer Orlando Gough, casting director Matilda James CDG, and movement director Lizzi Kew Ross.

For more info on Murder at the Cathedral, please click here.