Shakespeare’s Globe will welcome Paul McGann back to the London stage this summer in an updated version of Helen by Frank McGuinness.
The star studded cast not only includes McGann, but also Pennie Downie, Philip Cumbus, Jack Farthing, William Purefoy, Ukweli Roach, Andrew Vincent, Tom Stuart, James Lailey, Penny Layden, Diveen Henry, Graham Vick, Rawiri Paratene, Fergal McElherron and Holly Atkins.
McGann plays Menelaus in Helen which will be the first Greek drama to run at the Shakespeare’s Globe. He is best recognized for television and film work in Hornblower, Alien III, True Dare Kiss, and The Hanging Gale. In the past he has performed on stage at the National Theatre, West End, Royal Court, and Finborough theatre.
Helen will follow the currently running Romeo & Juliet at the Shakespeare’s Globe with basically the same cast list with the addition of only three outside actors/actresses: Henry, Downie, and Purefoy who all have many acting credits behind their names.
The story of Helen is a Greek myth written by Euripides that tells the story of King Menelaus who is shipwrecked in Egypt where he meets a wife who appears to be his wife until the plot begins to thicken.
The Globe 2009 season includes many plays; four of which opened before the debut of Helen comes including Romeo & Juliet, Troilus and Cressida, As You Like It, Love’s Labour Lost, The Frontline, and A new World- A Life of Thomas Paine.
