Kenneth Branagh, renowned for his breakthrough role as Henry V over 40 years ago, is making a triumphant return to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). This summer, he will star in The Tempest and Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, alongside Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt.
At 64, Branagh first gained acclaim as one of the finest Shakespearean actors of his generation when he took on the role of Henry V at just 23. His remarkable journey with the RSC includes performances as Laertes in Hamlet and the King of Navarre in Love’s Labour’s Lost, and he also wrote and directed Tell Me Honestly for the company. Over the years, Branagh has directed and starred in various celebrated Shakespeare productions, earning the distinction of being nominated for an unprecedented seven Academy Awards in different categories. This upcoming portrayal in The Tempest marks his first RSC performance since playing Hamlet in 1992 and 1993, under the direction of Adrian Noble.
Michael Billington of The Guardian, who praised Branagh’s earliest performances, remarked that in Hamlet, he conveyed “a deep sense of filial love,” emphasizing that it was a portrayal filled with profound sadness, ultimately proving Branagh’s enduring talent.
The Tempest holds a special place for Branagh, as it was the first play he ever saw as an audience member in Stratford in 1978, featuring notable actors like Michael Hordern and Alan Rickman. Branagh even recited a line from the play during the London Olympics opening ceremony in character as Isambard Kingdom Brunel. In this new RSC production, he will take on the role of Prospero, delivering the iconic line, “Our revels now are ended,” in what promises to be an “epic new staging” directed by Richard Eyre, with set design by Bob Crowley. Previews start on May 13 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Following The Tempest, the smaller Swan Theatre will host The Cherry Orchard, opening in July, where Branagh will portray Lopakhin and Hunt will play Madame Ranevskaya. This adaptation by Laura Wade is directed by Tamara Harvey, who collaborates frequently with Wade. Hunt, known for her role as Viola in Twelfth Night on Broadway, last graced a UK stage in 2022 in Eureka Day at the Old Vic.
Mark Gatiss is also set to join the RSC next year, marking his debut in the lead role of a Chicago mobster modeled after Hitler in Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. This version, adapted by Stephen Sharkey, will run in the Swan Theatre from April to May. Gatiss described the play as Brecht’s most accessible work, highlighting its relevance in today’s political climate.
The RSC’s spring season includes Driftwood, written by actress Martina Laird, focusing on capitalism and colonialism in Trinidad, which will be directed by Justin Audibert. Additionally, a new version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Rachel Bagshaw, will transition to Stratford after its initial run at the Unicorn Theatre in London.
