Coming to the West End: RSC's Imperium
Posted on
(Updated on 31 Jan 2019)
This two-part chronicle, adapted by Mike Poulton, will be transferring to the West End from Stratford come June and* *originally ran at the RSC Swan Theatre last December.
*[Imperium](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3111/imperium-i-conspirator-tickets.aspx) *is directed by Gregory Doran, who currently serves as RSC's in-house artistic director. The show is split into two parts ([Part 1: *Conspirator*](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3111/imperium-i-conspirator-tickets.aspx), [Part 2: *Dictator*](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3112/imperium-ii-dictator-tickets.aspx)) and is based on a series of novels by Robert Harris, known as the Cicero books collectively. The entire two-part epic features six one-act plays in total.
Cicero was a wealthy Roman lawyer and politician who played a role in the death of Julius Caesar. *[Imperium](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3111/imperium-i-conspirator-tickets.aspx) *chronicles both Caesar's death and the downfall of the Roman Republic.
The lead role of Cicero in the West End production will be played by **Richard McCabe**, followed by **Joseph Kloska** as Cicero's servant Tiro, who serves as the narrator of the show. The cast also features **Nicholas Boulton, Peter De Jersey, Joe Dixon, John Dougall, Guy Burgess, Hywel Morgan, David Nicolle, Siobhan Redmond, Patrick Romer, Christopher Saul, Eloise Secker, Daniel Burke, Jade Croot, Michael Grady-Hall, Oliver Johnstone, Paul Kemp, Patrick Knowles,** and **Simon Thorp**. Further casting will be confirmed at a later date.
This production is the second West End collaboration between Royal Shakespeare Company and Mike Poulton. They previously worked together to produce Hilary Mantel's *Wolf Hall* and *Bring up the Bodies,* which also enjoyed a West End transfer from Stratford in 2014.
*[Imperium](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3111/imperium-i-conspirator-tickets.aspx) *features music composed by Paul Englishby, sound by Claire Windsor, movement by Anna Morrissey, lighting by Mark Henderson and set design by Anthony Ward.
*[Imperium](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3111/imperium-i-conspirator-tickets.aspx)* is set to replace Jez Butterworth's *[The Ferryman](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/2638/the-ferryman-tickets.aspx) *after it wraps up at the [Gielgud Theatre](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/22/gielgud-theatre.aspx). The two-part saga will open on 30 June 2018 and run until 8 September 2018, with previews starting from 14 June 2018.
**Don't forget to buy tickets to both parts** of this political epic. For* Imperium I: Conspirator, *click [here](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3111/imperium-i-conspirator-tickets.aspx) and for *Imperium II: Dictator*, click [here](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/3112/imperium-ii-dictator-tickets.aspx).