Love’s Labour’s Lost starring Luke Thompson – full cast announced for RSC revival

Full casting is announced for the RSC’s revival of Love’s Labour’s Lost starring Bridgerton’s Luke Thompson.

Emily Burns’ contemporary take on Shakespeare’s vibrant comedy features Luke Thompson (Bridgerton) as Berowne, alongside Melanie-Joyce Bermudez as the Princess, Ioanna Kimbook as Rosaline, and Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran as Ferdinand.

Best known for his role as series regular Benedict Bridgerton in the popular Netflix drama, Luke Thompson has just won the WhatsOnStage award for Best Supporting Performer in a Play for A Little Life (Harold Pinter Theatre/Savoy Theatre). Other theatre credits include King Lear (Duke of York’s Theatre), Hamlet (Almeida Theatre/Harold Pinter Theatre), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Julius Caesar and The Broken Heart (Shakespeare’s Globe/Sam Wanamaker Playhouse). Television credits include Transatlantic, Kiss Me First, In the Club and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, and the films Misbehaviour, Making Noise Quietly and Dunkirk.

Love’s Labour’s Lost feature Jack Bardoe (Don Armado); Brandon Bassir (Dumaine); Melanie-Joyce Bermudez (the Princess); Jeffrey Chekai (Marcade); Iskandar Eaton (Moth); Nathan Foad (Costard); Sarita Gabony (Maria); Tony Gardner (Holofernes); Shailan Gohil (Ensemble); Amy Griffiths (Katherine); Ioanna Kimbook (Rosaline); Kok-Hwa Lie (Dull); Jordan Metcalfe (Boyet); Tika Mu’tamir (Ensemble); Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran (Ferdinand); Marienella Phillips (Jaquenetta); Eric Stroud (Longaville); Luke Thompson (Berowne); and Jamie Tyler (Ensemble).

Emily Burns, director, said: “I’m delighted to be working with this outstanding company on Love’s Labour’s Lost, the first production of Daniel and Tamara’s inaugural season at the RSC. This production contextualises the lords – with their strict regime of self-improvement, restrictive dieting and perverse ideas about the intellectual benefits of chastity – as modern tech billionaires, whose lease of land (in our production a contemporary, fictional island) from the Princess’ father is the real catalyst for the play. As the men play at being adults, the women take agency over the men’s childish games to serve their own ends. Love’s Labour’s Lost is a romantic comedy, but it’s also a meditation on fiction and reality, on the intertwining of language and power, and on the moment one “grows up”. It’s an enormous privilege to have such a talented, rigorous and joyful company to explore that with.”

Love’s Labour’s Lost runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon between 11 April – 18 May. The production is the first programmed by the RSC’s new Co-Artistic Directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, as part of their inaugural season.

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Main photo: Love's Labour's Lost, RSC - Luke Thompson