The Royal Shakespeare Company has unveiled the full cast for Laura Wade’s new adaptation of The Cherry Orchard, bringing together Bill Pullman, Kenneth Branagh, and Helen Hunt, with Chumisa Dornford-May, Alfred Enoch, Esther Smith, and Sophie Stone completing
The Royal Shakespeare Company has revealed the full cast for Laura Wade’s new adaptation of The Cherry Orchard — and the lineup already reads like a high-stakes invitation to the story’s last, haunted act.
Kenneth Branagh will play Lopakhin, Helen Hunt will take the role of Madame Ranyevskaya, and Bill Pullman is set for Gaev. Chumisa Dornford-May joins as Anya, Alfred Enoch as Trofimov, Esther Smith as Varya, and Sophie Stone as Sharlotta.
Wade, the Olivier-winning playwright behind The Constant Wife, Home, I’m Darling, Posh and Rivals, is adapting the Russian dramatist’s final play. The production will be directed by RSC co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey.
It will run at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from July 10 to August 29, with an official opening set for July 21.
Beyond the ensemble, the team shaping the world of the production is now also in place. Anna Fleischle is responsible for set and costume design. Aideen Malone will handle lighting design, with original compositions by Laura Rossi. Claire Windsor is set for sound design. Movement direction will be led by Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster, fight direction by Alex Payne, and music direction by Tomek Pieczora.
Casting is by Charlotte Sutton.
For more information, visit RSC.org.uk.
Royal Shakespeare Company The Cherry Orchard Laura Wade Tamara Harvey Kenneth Branagh Helen Hunt Bill Pullman Stratford-upon-Avon Swan Theatre Olivier-winning playwright