Ian McKellen-led 'Player Kings' announces full cast

The new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, parts one and two, is written by Robert Icke and will star Toheeb Jimoh and Richard Coyle alongside McKellen.

The full cast has been announced for Player Kings, starring Ian McKellen and written by Robert Icke. The new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, parts one and two, opens at the Noël Coward Theatre, with performances from 1 April.

Joining McKellen, who will take on the role of Falstaff – companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V of England – are Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso, Romeo and Juliet) as Hal and Richard Coyle (Ink, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) as King Henry IV.

The history play follows Hal as he goes through a series of capers with his older friend Falstaff, while the looming threat of war grows.

The rest of the cast includes Raphael Akuwudike (Prince John/Second Drawer), Sara Beharrell (Hotspur’s Servant/Snare/Davy), Samuel Edward-Cook (Hotspur/Pistol), Geoffrey Freshwater (Bardolph), James Garnon (Worcester/Silence), Alice Hayes (Messenger/Carrier), Henry Jenkinson (Harcourt), Nigel Lister (Northumberland/Francis), Annette McLaughlin (Warwick), Mark Monero (Peto), Hywel Morgan (Sir Walter Blunt), Joseph Mydell (Lord Chief Justice), Clare Perkins (Mistress Quickly), Daniel Rabin (Poins), David Semark (Vernon), David Shelley (Sheriff/Surrey), Robin Soans (Shallow), Tafline Steen (Tearsheet/Lady Percy), and Perry Williams (Page/Douglas/Thomas).

Player Kings has design by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting by Lee Curran, sound by Gareth Fry, casting by Julia Horan, and fighting design by Kev McCurdy.

Associate costume designer Johanna Coe, hair and make-up designer Susanna Peretz, and associate directors Jack Bradfield and Lizzie Manwaring complete the creative team.

Player Kings is at the Noël Coward Theatre until 22 June.

Book Player Kings tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: artwork for Player Kings. (Photo courtesy of production)