Genesis LAMDA Scholar Samuel Barnett to lead the cast in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in the West End

Genesis Foundation LAMDA Scholar Samuel Barnett (Class of 2001) is to play Rosencrantz in Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead alongside Jamie Parker (Guildenstern) and Tim Curry (The Player). The production is to be directed by Trevor Nunn in his role as Artistic Director after the recent success of Terence Rattigan’s Flare Path. Following a three week run at the Chichester Festival Theatre, the play will open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 16 June – 20 August, with press night on 21 June 2011.

In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a verbally scintillating and richly inventive play, Stoppard retells Hamlet through the eyes of two of its minor characters. Vaguely conscious that they are bit parts in a much bigger story of which they have no direct knowledge, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hilariously and poignantly inhabit a world completely beyond their grasp.

Samuel Barnett was last on stage as Leantio in Women Beware Women at the National Theatre. He played Posner in Alan Bennett’s The History Boys at the National Theatre, on Broadway, on film and on the radio. His other theatre credits include His Dark Materials for the National Theatre, The Whisky Taster and When You Cure Me for the Bush Theatre, Dealers Choice for the Menier Chocolate Factory, The Marriage of Figaro for the Royal Exchange Theatre, Accrington Pals for Chichester Festival Theatre and Frankenstein for the Open Air Theatre Regents Park. On television his credits include Two Pints of Larger and a Packet of Crisps, Miss Marple, Beautiful People, Desperate Romantics, Crooked House, John Adams and the title role in Wilfred Owen: A Tale of Remembrance. His other film credits include Bright Star, Mrs Henderson Presents and Love tomorrow.

For tickets please visit the Theatre Royal Haymarket website