Shakespeare’s â€Measure for Measure’ runs at the Almeida Theatre until Saturday 10th April. Theatre tickets are on sale now with many performances close to sold out. The play, although invariably entertaining, often seems an especially difficult one to perform. There are a number of interesting and competing readings of it. For example, the play opens on the Duke deciding to give up his responsibilities, go travelling and install the completely untested Angelo in his stead. Some see this as a Lear like dispersal of his powers but it seems rather more like David Haig’s version of the Duke at Shakespeare’s Globe some years ago. Essentially, he is a buffoon who cannot wait to get away from all the lawlessness his weak rule has contributed to. This is just the opening. There are all sorts of unpleasant moral questions that arise from Isabella’s scenes with Angelo and with Claudio her brother. However, it is these difficulties that make for such an interesting play. The director Michael Attenborough has enhanced this with some superb casting which will ensure the Almeida continues selling record numbers of theatre tickets. The Duke, Vincentio, is played by Ben Miles. Ben first came to widespread public attention playing the well endowed Patrick in the TV comedy series â€Coupling’. Other television credits include â€Under the Greenwood Tree’ and â€The Forsyte Saga’. Isabella is played by Anna Maxwell Martin. She played Esther Summerson in the BBC’s adaptation of â€Bleak House’ and her films include â€The Hours’, â€Enduring Love’ and â€Becoming Jane’. Rory Kinnear plays Angelo. This is set to be a busy year for Rory as he will return to the National Theatre, where he previously appeared in â€Philistines’ amongst others, shortly to play Hamlet. This is a show not to be missed. At Concierge Desk, we have the best deals in cheap London theatre tickets.
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