Meera Syal will feature in The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's Romeo and Juliet production it has been announced.
Joining previously announced Lily James (Juliet), Richard Madden (Romeo) and Derek Jacobi (Mercutio) will be Meera Syal as the Nurse.
Romeo and Juliet will play at the Garrick Theatre from 12 May until 13 August with press night on 25 May.
The production will be broadcast live to cinemas on 7 July.
Meera Syal said: "I'm so looking forward to joining such an exciting and prestigious company, and to be performing Shakespeare with them in this, his 400th anniversary year." Meanwhile, Nikki Patel will Balthasar. Nikki made her stage debut last year in the lead role of Alia in Future Conditional (Old Vic Theatre). She is well-known for playing Amber Kalirai in Coronation Street for which she received an NTA nomination for Best Newcomer.
Reuniting the stars of his celebrated film Cinderella, Kenneth Branagh and Rob Ashford will direct Shakespeareʼs heartbreaking tale of forbidden love.
The cinema broadcast of Romeo and Juliet will be directed by Benjamin Caron, who has also recently directed the broadcast of The Winter’s Tale and collaborated with Kenneth Branagh on the forthcoming series of Wallander, due to be broadcast on the BBC in 2016.
John Osborne’s The Entertainer, which will be the final production in the Plays at the Garrick season (20 August – 12 November), will also be broadcast to cinemas in 2016.
Participating cinemas and screening dates can be found at branaghtheatrelive.com
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