Full casting announced for RSC's Measure For Measure

Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare. Directed by Emily Burns at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from Saturday 13 September – Saturday 25 October.

Preview

Full casting is announced for the RSC’s forthcoming production of William Shakespeare’s razor-sharp thriller of hypocrisy and corruption, Measure for Measure. Making their RSC debuts, the production will feature Isis Hainsworth as Isabella, Adam James as Duke Vincentio and Tom Mothersdale as Angelo. 

Isis Hainsworth began her career in the West End. She is best known for her role in the BBC Three horror series Red Rose. Adam James is known for his numerous screen credits which include Dalgliesh, Young Sherlock, The Buccaneers, The Day of the Jackal, Hotel Portofino, The Suspect, Treason, Vigil, Belgravia, I May Destroy You, Deep State, King Charles III, Home from Home and Doctor Foster. Tom Mothersdale is known for his roles on screen in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light. Other screen work includes Brian & Maggie, Bodies, Culprits, Alex Rider, War of the Worlds, Van der Valk, Treadstone, A Discover of Witches, Hanna, Electric Dreams – The Hood Maker, King Charles III, Overlord, Black Noise.

Adam James. Photo credit George Fox.

 The full company comprises; Emily Benjamin (Mariana/Francisca), Isis Hainsworth (Isabella), Valentine Hanson (Friar Peter), Oli Higginson (Claudio), Adam James (Duke Vincentio), Miya James (Juliet/Angelo’s Assistant), Natasha Jayetileke (Provost), Kaffe Keating (Camera Operator), Douggie McMeekin (Lucio), Tom Mothersdale (Angelo), Sion Pritchard (Escalus), Katie Singh (Camera Operator) and John Vernon (Barnardine). 

Director, Emily Burns returns to the RSC following the success of her production of Love’s Labour’s Lost which opened Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans’ inaugural season in 2024. Her previous theatre credits include Dear Octopus and Jack Absolute Flies Again at the National Theatre, Reykjavik at the Hampstead Theatre, and The Book of Dust - La Belle Sauvage (co-director), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (associate director) and Julius Caesar (associate director) at the Bridge Theatre. 

Isis Hainsworth. Photo credit the artist.

 Talking about the production Emily said: “Measure for Measure is four hundred years old, yet shockingly modern. In this version, the psychological thriller at the heart of the play is tuned to its highest frequency - savage, uncompromising, heart-racing. This company are ferociously talented, ruthlessly incisive and completely exhilarating to watch on stage - I’m delighted to be working with a cast of such wit, drive and audacity.” 

Joining Emily on the creative team are Set and Costume Designer Frankie Bradshaw, Lighting Designer Joshua Pharo, Composer Asaf Zohar, Sound Designer Christopher Shutt, Movement and Intimacy Director James Cousins, Video Designer Zakk Hein and Casting Director Charlotte Sutton CDG. 

Tom Mothersdale. Photo credit the artist.

 ‘To whom should I complain? Who would believe me?’  When her brother falls foul of the state’s rigid morality laws, Isabella is sent to plead for his life. But a world of ambition and base appetite lurks behind the high idealism of public office, and soon the complex relationship between power and private citizen threatens to end her life as she knows it. 

For full biographies of the actors, dates for special performances and to book tickets which start at £10, please visit the RSC website: rsc.org.uk  Box office: 01789 331111.