Imelda Staunton & More Complete Casting for Circle Mirror Transformation at the Royal Court Theatre

Class is in session! Casting is complete for the U.K. premiere of Circle Mirror Transformation at the Royal Court Theatre, starring stage and screen favorite Imelda Staunton as a wacky acting teacher. Directed by James Macdonald, Annie Baker’s comedy begins performances July 5 at London’s Rose Lipman Building. Opening night is set for July 11.

In addition to Staunton as Marty the workshop leader, Circle Mirror Transformation will star Toby Jones as Schultz, Shannon Tarbet as Lauren, Danny Webb as James and Fenella Woolgar as Theresa.

Circle Mirror Transformation tells the story of four lost New Englanders who enroll in a community center drama class in Shirley, Vermont. When they experiment with harmless theater games, hearts are quietly torn apart and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. Directed by Sam Gold, Circle Mirror Transformation originally opened off-Broadway on October 13, 2009 at Playwrights Horizons. The production starred Reed Birney, Peter Friedman, Deirdre O’Connell, Tracee Chimo and Heidi Schreck.

Best known for her film and TV work, Staunton has appeared in Up the Garden Path, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Vera Drake, for which she earned an Oscar nomination. She garnered Olivier Awards for Into the Woods and The Corn is Green. In October 2012, Staunton was rumored to be starring in a new revival of Gypsy at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Jones has appeared onstage in The Painter, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour) and Parlour Song. His film and TV credits include Doctor Who, Titanic and the Harry Potter series. Tarbet’s stage credits include To Kill a Mockingbird and Mary Shelley. Webb’s London theater credits include The Witness, Chicken Soup with Barley and Troilus and Cressida. Woolgar’s stage credits include Hedda Gabler, The Real Thing and The Veil.

Circle Mirror Transformation features set and costume design by Chloe Lamford, lighting design by Peter Mumford and sound design by Carolyn Downing.