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Take a peek at rehearsals for the RSC's Edward II

Eloka Ivo, Daniel Evans and company in rehearsals. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC.
Eloka Ivo, Daniel Evans and company in rehearsals. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC.

 EDWARD II by Christopher Marlowe, Directed by Daniel Raggett, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 21 February – 5 April 2025.

 

The King is dead, long live the King. And his boyfriend. When Edward II insists on ruling with the man he loves by his side, the Palace refuses. The establishment conspires to restore the natural order, plunging the country into a civil war and threatening the very existence of the monarchy.

 

Rehearsal room images have been released for the RSC’s production of Christopher Marlowe’s rarely performed tragedy, Edward II. This will be the first RSC production of the play since 1990.

 

Directed by Daniel Raggett, Marlowe’s tender, yet violent play about King Edward II and the man he loves features Daniel Evans - the RSC’s Co-Artistic Director and double Olivier Award-winner - in the title role. This will be the first time Daniel has appeared on stage in a full acting role for 14 years, since he played Bobby in Sondheim’s Company at The Crucible in Sheffield in 2011.

Eloka Ivo and Daniel Evans in rehearsals for Edward II. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC.
Eloka Ivo and Daniel Evans in rehearsals for Edward II. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC.

Eloka Ivo makes his RSC debut as Gaveston, Edward’s lover. Eloka’s previous theatre credits include Backstairs Billy (Duke of York’s), Black Superhero (Royal Court), The Glass Menagerie (Royal Exchange), The Gods Are Not to Blame (Almeida) and The End of Eddy (BAM New York).

 

Also making their RSC debuts are Ruta Gedmintas and Enzo Cilenti, as, respectively, Edward’s wife Queen Isabella, and Mortimer, who plots against the King.


Eloka Ivo and Ruta Gedmintas in rehearsal for Edward II. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC.
Eloka Ivo and Ruta Gedmintas in rehearsal for Edward II. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC.

The cast comprises: Jacob James Beswick (Lightborn), Enzo Cilenti (Mortimer), Michael Cusick (Ensemble), Stavros Demetraki (Spencer), Emilio Doorgasingh (Pembroke), Amy Dunn (Ensemble), Daniel Evans (Edward II), Ruta Gedmintas (Isabella), James Hayes (Archbishop of Canterbury), Eloka Ivo (Gaveston), Geoffrey Lumb (Warwick), Kwaku Mills (Baldock), Evan Milton (Lancaster), Christopher Patrick Nolan (Bishop of Coventry), Henry Pettigrew (Kent), Joseph Rowe (Ensemble) and Neil Sheffield (Ensemble). Full bios can be seen on the RSC’s website.

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Talking about the play director, Daniel Raggett said: “I’m thrilled and deeply privileged to be working with this incredible cast on Edward II. This major Elizabethan drama hasn’t been seen at the RSC for over 30 years, and our production will breathe new life into it: honouring Marlowe’s razor-sharp writing whilst embodying everything that gives the original the propulsive energy of a thriller. 


Stavros Demetraki and Kwaku Mills in rehearsals for Edward II. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC.
Stavros Demetraki and Kwaku Mills in rehearsals for Edward II. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC.

 “A love story with a political edge - this 400-year-old play has plenty to say about thesupposedly liberal and progressive times in which we now live: when King Edward wants to rule alongside the man he loves, how much change can the establishment tolerate, and at what cost?”

 

Daniel Raggett was nominated for the Emerging Talent award at 2022 Evening Standard Theatre Awards. In 2025, besides directing Edward II for the RSC, he will direct The Estate, a new play by Shaan Sahota at the National Theatre.  His previous directing credits include Brace Brace (Royal Court), ANNA X (Harold Pinter Theatre, West End, Sky Arts), Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sheffield Theatres, Lyric Hammersmith, Theatre Royal Haymarket, where it was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play), The Vortex (Chichester Festival Theatre), and The Human Voice (which he also adapted, Gate Theatre, nominated for Best Director, Off West End Awards).

Ruta Gedmintas and company in rehearsals for Edward II. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC).
Ruta Gedmintas and company in rehearsals for Edward II. Photo by Helen Murray (c) RSC).

Joining Daniel Raggett on the creative team are: Leslie Travers (Set and Costume Designer); Tim Lutkin (Lighting Designer); Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly (Composers); Tingying Dong (Sound Designer); Anthony Matsena and Kel Matsena (Movement Directors); Kev McCurdy (Fight Director); and Julia Horan CDG (Casting Director).

 

 Audio Described performance: Saturday 15 March, 1.30pm, Friday 21 March, 7.30pmCaptioned performance: Thursday 20 March, 7.30pmChilled and Hand held Captioned performance: Saturday 22 March, 1.30pmCaptioned and Chilled performance: Wednesday 26 March, 1.30pmHand held Captioned performance: Saturday 29 March, 7.30pmDirector Talk: Tuesday 4 March, 5.15pmUnwrapped, Saturday 22 March, 10.15amPost Show Talk: Tuesday 25 March

 

For tickets, dates and times of special performances, full bios and more information go to: www.rsc.org.uk or call the Box Office on 01789 331111.

 

 

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