Over 60 Artists Set for THE ILIAD at Almeida Theatre

A company of more than 60 artists will bring The Iliad to life in a durational reading on Friday 14 August. The reading will begin at the British Museum and culminate on the Almeida stage. The marathon reading is the latest event in the theatre's Almeida Greeks Festival which has so far seen Robert Icke's critically acclaimed production of Oresteia transfer to Trafalgar Studios in the West End and James Macdonald's production of Bakkhai play to sold out houses at the Almeida.

Homer's The Iliad is the source myth of Greek drama and the greatest story of heroism, betrayal and war in literature. Directed by Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold and Associate Director Robert Icke, the marathon event's 60 strong cast will include Nikki Amuka-Bird, Adjoa Andoh, Pippa Benett-Warner, Katie Brayben, Lorna Brown, Simon Callow, Bertie Carvel, Oliver Chris, Simon Coates, Brian Cox, Sinead Cusack, Joe Dixon, Monica Dolan, Amanda Drew, Noma Dumezweni, Tim Dutton, Lisa Dwan, Caroline Faber, Will Featherstone, Stephen Fewell, Susannah Fielding, Deborah Findlay, Annie Firbank, Kate Fleetwood, Barbara Flynn, Naomi Frederick, Mariah Gale, Mark Gatiss, Julian Glover, Simon Goldhill, Adrian der Gregorian, Scott Handy, Janine Harouni, Ian Hart, Kevin Harvey, John Heffernan, Joshua Higgott, William Houston, Rory Kinnear, Lesley Manville, Eleanor Matsuura, Ian McDiarmid, Tobias Menzies, Hattie Morahan, Jonjo O'Neill, Tim Pigott-Smith, Ben Porter, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Paul Ready, Jenna Russell, Simon Russell Beale, Michael Shaeffer, Annabel Scholey, John Simm, Jonathan Slinger, Sharon Small, Matthew Spencer, Gavin Spokes, Tafline Steen, Janet Suzman, Luke Thompson, Sam West, Ben Whishaw, Lia Williams, Angus Wright and Hara Yannas.

The unique event will be live streamed at almeida.co.uk/iliad-digital for those unable to attend the marathon. Exclusive behind-the-scenes content and interviews will be broadcast throughout the event on Periscope. A podcast series and making-of film will be available to view online in the weeks following the event.

Anyone wishing to join the conversation can do so by following @AlmeidaTheatre on Twitter along with the hashtag #Iliad.

The Almeida Greeks Festival will run until October alongside the main stage productions of Bakkhai and Medea. Inspired in spirit and form by the ancient Festivals of Dionysos, the festival will include an eclectic mix of performances, events, talks and readings as an array of contemporary artists interrogate the Ancient Greek canon.

For the full festival line-up please visit almeida.co.uk/greeks.