Titus Andronicus - Shakespeare's bloodiest tragedy

Titus Andronicus. Image courtesy of the RSC.

Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from Thursday 17 April to Saturday 7 June. Directed by Max Webster.

Preview

Get ready for the RSC’s production of William Shakespeare’s bloodiest of tragedies, Titus Andronicus, directed by Max Webster, which runs in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon between Thursday 17 April – Saturday 7 June 2025.  

RSC Associate Artist, Simon Russell Beale returns to the RSC to play the title role. Simon was last seen at the RSC in Gregory Doran’s landmark production of The Tempest. Simon’s other credits for the company include King Lear, Ghosts, Richard III, The Seagull, Edward II, Troilus and Cressida, The Man of Mode and Restoration. Simon has won three Olivier Awards for his performances in Uncle Vanya at the Donmar Warehouse, and Candide and Volpone, both for the National Theatre. He also won the Tony Award for his performance in the National Theatre’s The Lehman Trilogy on Broadway, following a sell-out run in London. Other credits include Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House).  He has just played A E Housman in Tom Stoppard’s The Invention of Love (Hampstead Theatre).

Simon Russell Beale. Photo courtesy of the RSC.

On screen, Simon was most recently seen in HBO’s hit series House of the Dragon. He has received two BAFTAs for his performances in the BBC’s The Hollow Crown: Henry V Parts 1 and 2 in 2013, and A Dance to the Music of Time in 1998, as well as the British Independent Film Award’s Best Supporting Actor accolade for his performance in the dark comedy, The Death of Stalin in 2017. 

The full company comprises: Jeremy Ang Jones (Demetrius), Simon Russell Beale (Titus Andronicus), Marlowe Chan-Reeves (Chiron), Danny Collins (Martius/Messenger), Ned Costello (Bassianus/Publius), Emma Fielding (Marcia Andronicus), Joshua James (Saturninus), Natey Jones (Aaron), Thomas Josling (Quintus/Aemilius), Wendy Kweh (Tamora), Joel MacCormack (Lucius), Jerone Marsh-Reid (Alarbus/Goth), Sharita Oomeer (Nurse/Goth) and Letty Thomas (Lavinia). Full bios are on the RSC website.

Director, Max Webster makes his RSC debut. His recent theatre credits include The Importance of Being Earnest (National Theatre), Macbeth (Harold Pinter/Donmar),  Antigone (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Henry V (Donmar) and Life of Pi (Broadway, Boston, Wyndham’s, Sheffield Crucible, winner of 5 Olivier and 3 TONY Awards).  Opera credits include La bohème (Göteborg Opera) and The Merry Widow (ENO).

The cast of Titus Andronicus. Image courtesy of the RSC.

Talking about the production Director Max Webster said: “I have always been fascinated, curious and horrified by Titus Andronicus and when the RSC asked me to think about this play with one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of his generation - Simon Russell Beale - it was impossible to say no. Around him we have assembled an insanely talented company, including Natey Jones, Emma Fielding, Wendy Kweh and Letty Thomas, which feels like a very special way for me to work for the first time at the RSC. 

“I think this play - one of Shakespeare’s first - is full of young man bravado and anger, and creates a howl of pain that seems to echo tragically with our modern world.”

Joining Max on the creative team are Set and Costume Designer, Joanna Scotcher; Lighting Designer, Lee Curran; Composer, Matthew Herbert; Sound Designer, Tingying Dong; Movement Director, Jade Hackett; Fight and Intimacy Directors, Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown; and Casting Director, Matthew Dewsbury CDG.

For tickets contact the Box Office 01789 331111 or visit: rsc.org.uk.