The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) today announces that The Comedy of Errors will transfer to the Barbican for a strictly limited London run following a season in Stratford-upon-Avon and a short National Tour. The production, directed by Phillip Breen (The Provoked Wife, The Hypocrite) will run at the Barbican from Tuesday 16 November until Friday 31 December, with an Opening Night on Tuesday 23 November.

The production was due to be part of the RSC’s summer season in 2020 but was postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 17-strong cast includes members of the original acting company, with a number of roles recast. The Comedy of Errors at the Barbican is sponsored by ICBC (London).

A father ends up in the wrong country on the wrong day as a government makes hasty proclamations about travel. A lonely son, while searching for his brother, loses himself. Across town a wife starts to realise her husband is not the man she thought he was (but rather likes it). Will anything ever be the same again?

Director Phillip Breen says:

“I am beyond excited to be making my debut at the Barbican this autumn with this production of The Comedy of Errors. It’s an extraordinary play, not least because of how it resonates with the times we now find ourselves in – a play of family reunions, people finding each other once again, people holding each other at sunset – it seems entirely apt for this moment, and for the RSC to be reunited with the Barbican once again this autumn.”

Gregory Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said:

“The Royal Shakespeare Company’s home is in the very heart of the country, but we have always cherished our strong presence in London, the theatre capital of the world. This autumn we will be back at the Barbican, Gielgud Theatre and Cambridge Theatre and we cannot wait.

I look forward to returning to the Barbican, sharing our summer production of The Comedy of Errors with London audiences. The play, directed by Phillip Breen, a master of comedy, is one of Shakespeare’s most hilarious and joy-filled, but with its accompanying themes of separation, loss and ultimate reunion it also chimes with our challenging times.”

Toni Racklin, Head of Theatre and Dance at the Barbican said:

“We’re delighted to welcome the RSC back to the Barbican in 2021 in a relationship that continues to get deeper and stronger. In these uncertain times, the RSC’s annual fixture in our year-round international theatre and dance programme is warmly anticipated by both our organisations and audiences. We’re so thrilled that we are able to show The Comedy of Errors to our London audiences, and to welcome for the first time Phillip Breen, who makes his Barbican debut.”

Jonathan Broadbent and Greg Haiste retain their roles as, respectively, Dromio of Syracuse and Dromio of Ephesus, whilst Hedydd Dylan (Adrianna), Guy Lewis (Antipholus of Syracuse) and Rowan Polonski (Antipholus of Ephesus) join the company. Original cast member Avita Jay will now play Luciana.

Jonathan Broadbent plays Dromio of Syracuse. His previous RSC credits include The Tempest, Queen Anne and Love for Love. Other theatre credits include Henry VI Parts I, II and III, Richard III, Henry IV Parts I and II and Henry V (Shakespeare’s Globe); The Wizard of Oz (Sheffield Crucible); and My Night with Reg (Donmar Warehouse/Apollo Theatre). Jonathan’s screen credits include The Crown, Silent Witness, EastEnders, and Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptations of The Magic Flute and As You Like It.

Hedydd Dylan plays Adrianna. Previous RSC credits include Oppenheimer, The Shoemaker’s Holiday and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other theatre credits include: Bartholomew Fair and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Shakespeare’s Globe), Mother Courage (Headlong/Manchester Royal Exchange) and The Cherry Orchard (Sherman Theatre). TV credits include: Emmerdale, Bang, Hinterland and Pobol Y Cwm.

Greg Haiste will make his RSC debut as Dromio of Ephesus. His numerous theatre credits include Quiz (Chichester Festival Theatre/Noël Coward Theatre); Richard III and Nell Gwynn (Shakespeare’s Globe/Apollo Theatre); 39 Steps (Criterion Theatre); and The Lady in the Van, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Hamlet and The Accrington Pals (West Yorkshire Playhouse). His TV credits include Pennyworth, Timewasters, Heartbeat, Jane Hall and Emmerdale, whilst film credits include The Current War, The Time of Our Lives and Starfish.

Avita Jay plays Luciana. Her previous RSC credits include The Winter’s Tale. Other theatre credits include Lovely Bones (Birmingham Rep); Billionaire Boy (NST Theatre/UK Tour); The Secret Garden (York Theatre Royal); and The Jungle Book (National Tour). TV work includes Emmerdale, Silent Witness and Coronation Street.

Guy Lewis makes his RSC debut playing Antipholus of Syracuse. Theatre credits include: The Butterfly Lion (Minerva, Chichester Festival Theatre); Goodnight Mr Tom (Duke of York’s); Twelfth Night (Regent’s Park); A Christmas Carol (Birmingham Rep), Pygmalion, Measure for Measure and Hamlet (Clwyd Theatr, Cymru); and Hamlet and The Canterbury Tales (Northern Broadsides/New Vic). TV credits include Torchwood and Casualty.

Rowan Polonski plays Antiphlous of Ephesus. Other RSC credits include The Hypocrite (RSC/Hull Truck); The Omission of the Family Coleman, Shakespeare in Love (Theatre Royal Bath); Cockamamy (Hope Theatre, Islington); Desert Rats (Arts Theatre) and Another Country (Trafalgar Studios). TV works includes Doctor Who and Otherworld.

The cast also includes: Toyin Ayedun-Alase (Courtesan), Antony Bunsee (Egeon), Alfred Clay (Dr Pinch), William Grint (2nd Merchant), Zoe Lambert (Aemelia), Dyfrig Morris (2nd Merchant Bodyguard), Baker Mukasa (Angelo), Patrick Osborne (Balthasar), Nicholas Prasad (Duke Solinus), Riad Richie (1st Merchant) and Sarah Seggari (Luce).

Phillip Breen’s previous RSC directorial credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Provoked Wife and The Hypocrite. The production is designed by Max Jones with Lighting by Tina MacHugh, Music by Paddy Cunneen, Sound by Dyfan Jones, Movement by Charlotte Broom and Fights by Renny Krupinski.