Royal Court Theatre and LIFT announce further casting for ECHO by Nassim Soleimanpour

The Royal Court Theatre and LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) have today announced a further nine artists who will perform in the world premiere of ECHO (Every Cold-Hearted Oxygen) written by critically acclaimed Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour (White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, NASSIM)  and directed by Omar Elerian (NASSIM, Misty, two Palestinians go dogging). In total 15 different artists will perform Soleimanpour’s new piece which pushes the boundaries of his signature unrehearsed cold reads. 

The production will run at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs from Saturday 13 – Saturday 27 July 2024 with opening night on Wednesday 17 July. The performance schedule has now been announced with a final special guest artist to be revealed. 

Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve) will perform on 13 July; Benedict Wong (3 Body Problem) on 15 July; Sheila Atim (Constellations) on 16 July; Adrian Lester (Renegade Nell) on 17 July; Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play) on 18 July; Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem (Cabaret) on 19 July; Monica Dolan (The Change) at 1.30pm on 20 July; Meera Syal (Roar) on 22 July; Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) will perform on 23 July; Mawaan Rizwan (Juice) on 24 July; Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer) on 25 July; Nick Mohammed (Douglas Is Cancelled) on 26 July; Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs. The Post Office) at 1.30pm on 27 July and Kathryn Hunter (Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead) at 6.30pm on 27 July.

Across the three week run a different performer will take to the stage at each show without having a clue of what is going to be asked of them. Unrehearsed and unprepared, the script becomes their guide as they journey through the story of the playwright, connected live from his flat in Berlin. Or is he? Can we really know where or when we are?

To read the full press release, see here.