Antony Sher, Jasper Britton & Alex Hassell to Lead RSC's HENRY IV PART I and PART II, Begin. March 2014

Casting is announced for Gregory Doran's productions of Henry IV Parts I & II which play in repertoire in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from March 2014 with a double press day on Wednesday 16 April, before transferring to Newcastle Theatre Royal, embarking on a UK tour and transferring to London's Barbican.

Directed by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran and with RSC Honorary Associate Artist Antony Sher as Sir John Falstaff, Jasper Britton as Henry IV and Alex Hassell as Prince Hal, both productions will be broadcast 'Live from Stratford-upon-Avon' to cinemas in collaboration with Picturehouse Entertainment. Henry IV Part I will be filmed during the performance in the RST on Wednesday 14 May and Henry IV Part II on Wednesday 18 June and simultaneously screened in over 300 cinemas around the country whilst also being available in North America, Australia, Japan and Northern Europe.

Henry IV Part I cast includes: Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Prince John/Francis); Martin Bassindale (Peto); Jasper Britton (King Henry IV); Antony Byrne (Worcester); Sean Chapman (Northumberland/Earl of Douglas); Paola Dionisotti (Mistress Quickly); Jonny Glynn (Gadshill); Nia Gwynne (Lady Mortimer); Alex Hassell (Prince Hal); Jim Hooper (Sir Richard Vernon); Youssef Kerkour (Westmoreland); Sam Marks (Poins); Keith Osborn (Scroop); Leigh Quinn (Traveller); Joshua Richards (Bardolph/Glendower); Antony Sher (Sir John Falstaff); Simon Thorp (Sir Walter Blunt); Trevor White (Hotspur) and Simon Yadoo (Chamberlain).

Henry IV Part II cast includes: Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Prince John/Francis); Martin Bassindale (Peto); Jasper Britton (King Henry IV); Antony Byrne (Pistol); Sean Chapman (Northumberland); Oliver Ford Davies (Shallow); Paola Dionisotti (Mistress Quickly); Jonny Glynn (Warwick); Nia Gwynne (Doll Tearsheet); Alex Hassell (Prince Hal); Jim Hooper (Silence); Youssef Kerkour (Westmoreland); Sam Marks (Poins); Keith Osborn (Scroop); Leigh Quinn (Wart); Joshua Richards (Bardolph); Antony Sher (Sir John Falstaff); Simon Thorp (Lord Chief Justice); Trevor White (Mowbray) and Simon Yadoo (Lord Bardolph).

Several of the cast and all of the creative team for these productions were also part of Doran's recent production of Richard II. The production is designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis with lighting by Tim Mitchell. The music is composed by Paul Englishby with sound by Martin Slavin. The Movement director is Mike Ashcroft and the Fight director is Terry King.

The Company is also offering another unique opportunity to schools across the UK to experience both productions in the classroom; Henry IV Part I in June 2014 and Henry IV Part II in July 2014. As the first theatre company to broadcast its work to schools the RSC reached over 34,000 students with its opening streaming of Richard II in November which included a live Q&A hosted by Konnie Huq with David Tennant and Gregory Doran.

This hugely popular initiative is made possible through collaboration with Ravensbourne College. Alongside the webcast, the RSC will create an extensive package of online resources for use by teachers and students in the classroom, both in the lead up to the broadcast and for use as follow up materials afterwards.