CASTING has been announced for the much acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company productions of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing, presented at Chichester Festival Theatre ( September 24- October 29).

Edward Bennett recreates his performance as Berowne and Benedick, and Lisa Dillon co-stars as Rosaline and Beatrice, in director Christopher Luscombe’s elegant, effervescent productions. These great romantic comedies were first paired in an innovative doubling to high praise and enjoyment in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2014.

The full 22-strong ensemble company, including many actors returning from the original productions, is: Sam Alexander, John Arthur, William Belchambers, Edward Bennett, Paige Carter, Rebecca Collingwood, Lisa Dillon, Nick Harris, Nick Haverson, John Hodgkinson, Tunji Kasim, Emma Manton, Chris McCalphy, Peter McGovern, Chris Nayak, Jamie Newall, Steven Pacey, Roderick Smith, Jamie Tyler, Harry Waller, Anna Wheatley and Leah Whitaker.

At the end of Love’s Labour’s Lost two sparring lovers, Berowne and Rosalind, are separated; at the start of Much Ado About Nothing (or Love’s Labour’s Won), two sparring lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, meet again after a long absence. The RSC productions, with dazzling country-house designs by Simon Higlett and glorious music by Nigel Hess, are set either side of the First World War: Love’s Labour’s Lost conjures up the carefree elegance of a pre-war Edwardian summer, while in post-war Much Ado About Nothing, the world has changed forever with the roaring ‘20s just around the corner.

Edward Bennett reprises his roles as Berowne in Love’s Labour’s Lost and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. Edward made his name when he took over the title role in Hamlet from David Tennant at the Novello Theatre in 2008. His recent theatre credits include Photograph 51 with Nicole Kidman in the West End, the National Theatre’s One Man, Two Guvnors on tour, and The Rehearsal at Chichester.

Lisa Dillon will play Rosaline in Love’s Labour’s Lost and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. Lisa recently starred as Moll in The Roaring Girl and as Katharina in The Taming of the Shrew, both at the RSC, and opposite Stephen Mangan as Lisa in Birthday at the Royal Court. Her other theatre credits include A Flea in Her Ear and Design For Living (Old Vic), The Knot of the Heart (Almeida), Private Lives and Under The Blue Sky (West End). On television, she is best known for her role as Mary Smith in Cranford.