The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced casting for The Forsyte Saga, Parts 1 and 2.
John Galsworthy’s epic family drama transfers to the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 28 November 2025 to 10 January 2026, following its acclaimed 2024 run at London’s Park Theatre.
Reprising their roles from the original Park Theatre run are Fiona Hampton (Touching the Void) as Irene, Joseph Millson (Noises Off, Mary Poppins) as Soames, and Flora Spencer-Longhurst (Amélie) as Fleur. Together they lead Galsworthy’s tale of love, possession and the shifting moral tides of late-Victorian England. The story spans 1886 to 1927, tracing the decline of an empire and the fortunes of those who thrived under it.
At its heart, The Forsyte Saga examines the English obsession with property — both material and emotional. Soames Forsyte’s possessive marriage to Irene sets off a chain of events that reverberates across generations, exposing the fragility of wealth and the cost of control.
Adapted by Shaun McKenna and Lin Coghlan with direction by Josh Roche, the story is presented in two parts.
Director Josh Roche describes the play as “a story so compelling you don’t notice the hours go by — like a great book by a winter fireside.” He adds: “The Forsyte Saga started out at Park Theatre on a very small budget, brought to life by the willpower of producer Ashley Cook. Its journey to the RSC is a testament to the perseverance of freelancers to make work without safety nets or guarantees.”
The full company includes Emma Amos, Paul Carroll, Nigel Hastings, Michael Lumsden, Abigail Mahony, Florence Roberts, Andy Rush, and Jamie Wilkes, alongside Hampton, Millson and Spencer-Longhurst.
Roche is joined by Anna Yates (set and costume design), Alex Musgrave (lighting), Max Pappenheim (composer and sound design), Patrice Bowler (movement direction) and Matthew Dewsbury CDG (additional casting).
The Forsyte Saga is presented by the RSC in association with Ashley Cook for Troupe.
More from the RSC
The RSC’s London season continues.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical celebrates 15 years in the West End at the Cambridge Theatre, booking until 17 January 2027, with a new UK & Ireland tour now playing nationwide.
My Neighbour Totoro — winner of six Olivier Awards — is now playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, booking to 29 March 2026. The celebrated Studio Ghibli adaptation is produced by the RSC with original composer Joe Hisaishi and adapted for the stage by Tom Morton-Smith.
Two further RSC productions transfer to the Barbican Theatre: Wendy & Peter Pan (21 October – 22 November 2025), starring Toby Stephens as Captain Hook, and Twelfth Night (8 December 2025 – 17 January 2026), starring Samuel West and Freema Agyeman.
Also coming up at the RSC is the major new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG which begins performances on 25 November in Stratford.
Looking ahead, details of the RSC’s 2026 season in Stratford-upon-Avon have also been announced, featuring new productions across the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre including The Tempest with Kenneth Branagh, The Cherry Orchard with Branagh and Helen Hunt, and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui with Mark Gatiss. Explore the 2026 RSC season →
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