Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston Reunited For 'Antony and Cleopatra'

The Stage.co.uk, 29 January 2014
By Matthew Hemley
Thanks Jane, Jude

Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston, who last year starred together in a production of 'Macbeth', are to be reunited for a radio production of Shakespeare’s 'Antony and Cleopatra' this April.

The BBC Radio 3 drama is being broadcast to mark the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth and will be aired on April 20.

It is being directed by Alison Hindell and sees Branagh and Kingston reunited following 'Macbeth', which was performed as part of last year’s Manchester International Festival.

Branagh, who will play Antony to Kingston’s Cleopatra, said: “I’m so happy to be teamed again with Alison Hindell whose brilliant production of Life and Fate was one of the great pleasures of my work in radio. I’m also excited to be reunited with Alex Kingston after our hugely rewarding partnership in 'Macbeth' on stage. To play another pair of Shakespeare’s great couples is a privilege.”

The play forms part of Radio 3’s new season of programmes, announced today, which also includes a celebration of Dylan Thomas.

The centenary of Thomas’ birth will be marked with the world premiere of 'The Beach of Falesa', a script Thomas penned based on a Robert Louis Stevenson short story. It will be aired on May 4.

As part of its new season, Radio 3 has also announced a partnership with the Southbank Centre’s learning and participation team to train the “next generation of radio makers”. This will see a pop-up studio built at the Royal Festival Hall, where people will be able to watch live broadcasts and learn about radio. It runs from March 15 to 31.


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