Cast announced for Persuasion at Rose Theatre, Alexandra Palace & Oxford Playhouse

Casting has been revealed for Jeff James and James Yeatman’s stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion

The piece sees the classic story reimagined for the twenty-first century with a soundtrack of songs from the likes of Frank Ocean, Dua Lipa and Cardi B.

Sasha Frost and Fred Fergus will star as Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth respectively.

Joining them are Matilda Bailes as Elizabeth/Louisa, Grace Cookey-Gam as Lady Russell/Mrs Croft, Helen Cripps as Mary, Adam Deary as Edmund Hayter/ Captain Benwick/Mr Elliot, Emilio Doorgasingh as Sir Walter/Admiral Croft, Caroline Moroney as Mrs Clay/Henrietta and Dorian Simpson as Charles.

The Rose Original and Alexandra Palace production in association with Oxford Playhouse opens at the Rose Theatre on 3 March 2022, with previews from 26 February, running until 19 March 2022. The production will then move to Alexandra Palace (7 to 30 April) and Oxford Playhouse (4 to 14 May 2022).

When Frederick Wentworth proposed to Anne Elliot eight years ago, he was undistinguished with no prospects, only able to offer his love and ambition. Persuaded out of accepting his proposal by her family, Anne has never quite got over her first love.

But now Wentworth is back. Rich, successful, single and handsome, the now decorated naval Captain has become a serious catch. When circumstances bring the two face to face again, Anne’s forced to confront her past and face-up to her choices.

Tickets are available now from rosetheatre.org, alexandrapalace.com and oxfordplayhouse.com

Persuasion is directed by Jeff James, with design by Alex Lowde, lighting design by Lucy Carter, music and sound design by Ben & Max Ringham, movement by Morgann Runacre-Temple and dramaturgy by James Yeatman. The assistant director is Layla Madanat, the recipient of Rose Theatre’s 2021 Peter Hall Emerging Artists Fellowship.

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.