Filumena - full casting announced
Casting Update
JOINING Samantha Spiro in the cast of Filumena will be Geoffrey Freshwater (Alfredo), Victoria Lloyd (Lucia/Teresina), Luke Norris (Riccardo), Emily Plumtree (Diana), Sheila Reid (Rosalia), Richard Riddell (Michele), Brodie Ross (Umberto), Edmund Wiseman (Nocella/Waiter) and Clive Wood (Domenico).
Tanya Ronder’s new English version of Eduardo de Filippo’s Filumena, directed by Michael Attenborough, opens at the Almeida Theatre on March 22 (previews from March 15) and continues until May 12, 2012.
In the balmy heat of late ‘40s Naples, Filumena Marturano lies on her deathbed waiting to marry Domenico Soriano, the man who has kept her as his mistress for twenty-five years.
But no sooner has the priest completed the ceremony, than Filumena makes a miraculous recovery. As he reels in shock, Domenico discovers that this brilliant, iron-willed woman has a few more surprises for him.
Since 2005, Geoffrey Freshwater has been a company member at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he has most recently appeared in As You Like It, The Grain Store, King Lear and Antony and Cleopatra. His other theatre credits include The Alchemist, The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Mother (all at the National Theatre). His television work includes Law and Order UK, The Government Inspector and No Bananas.
Victoria Lloyd, who last appeared at the Almeida Theatre in Michael Attenborough’s 2009 production of Measure for Measure, has also appeared on stage in Mine (Finborough Theatre) and Desire Under the Elms (New Vic, Newcastle). Her film credits include Godard and Others, Crews and Small Things.
Luke Norris’ theatre work includes War Horse, The Habit of Art and The Kitchen (National Theatre), Remembrance Day (Royal Court Theatre) and Days of Significance and The Gods Weep (RSC). His screen credits include Skins and ITV’s upcoming Titanic (TV); The Duchess and Running for River (film).
Emily Plumtree’s theatre credits include Nerissa in Rupert Goold’s 2011 production of The Merchant of Venice and Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew (Royal Shakespeare Company), Moonfleece (Riverside Studios) and Double Falsehood (Union Theatre). She was nominated for a 2011 BIFA Raindance Award for playing the lead role in the film Hollow.
Sheila Reid’s theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet and Richard III (RSC), My Mother Said I Never Should, Black Milk and Terrorism (Royal Court Theatre) and Into The Woods (Donmar Warehouse). She spent seven years with Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre Company and more recently played the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd.
Although best known on television for playing Madge in ITV’s award-winning Benidorm, Reid has also appeared on screen in Case Histories, Midsomer Murders and Justice (TV); Five Days One Summer, Winter Guest and Brazil (film).
Richard Riddell played the role of Bassanio in Rupert Goold’s 2011 production of The Merchant of Venice for the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as Joey in The Homecoming in the same season. His other theatre credits include The Comedy of Errors and Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare’s Globe).
On screen, he has appeared in Misfits, Merlin and Waking The Dead (TV); The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Weekender and Robin Hood (film).
Brodie Ross’ theatre work includes An Enemy of the People (Sheffield Crucible), Charley’s Aunt (Royal Exchange Theatre) and, most recently, Roderigo in Othello (also at Sheffield Crucible). On television, he has appeared in Silk and Lewis.
Edmund Wiseman’s theatre credits include Dennis Kelly’s Osama the Hero (Hampstead Theatre) and Cheek by Jowl’s production of Macbeth (Barbican).
Clive Wood recently appeared in both The Tempest and Flare Path, which were part of Trevor Nunn’s season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. His previous theatre credits include Richard II, Richard III, Hamlet, Nicholas Nickleby, the title role in Henry IV parts I and II, Antony and Cleopatra and Les Liaisons Dangereuses – all for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The latter two were directed by Michael Attenborough.
Wood’s recent television credits include What To Do When Someone Dies, Waking The Dead and Land Girls and his film work includes Dirty Bomb, The Crucifer of Blood and Treasure Island.
Read more about Filumena
Prior to Filumena, The House of Bernarda Alba runs at the Almeida from January 26 (previews from January 19) to March 10, 2012.