Full Cast and Creative Team Announced for The Penelopiad at York Theatre Royal
York Theatre Royal has confirmed the complete casting and creative lineup for its upcoming major UK revival of Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad. Amelia Bullmore, who was previously announced to star in the lead role of Penelope, will be joined on stage by a talented ensemble.
The cast features Nell Baker as Laertes, Danielle Bird as Eurycleia, Olivia Burton-Laws as Naiad Mother, Faye Campbell as Melantho, Pena Iiyambo as Helen, Kat Johns-Burke as Antinous, Syakira Moeladi as Telemachus, and Charlie Russell as Odysseus.
Bringing a Feminist Retelling of The Odyssey to York
Directed by the venue’s Creative Director, Juliet Forster, the production is scheduled to open on 14 October 2026, with previews starting on 10 October, and runs through 31 October 2026.
Adapted directly by Atwood from her acclaimed novella, the play offers a provocative and witty perspective on Homer’s classic epic. By shifting the lens to Penelope and her chorus of maids, the narrative re-examines a familiar ancient story through song, movement, and sharp humor.
Forster leads an entirely female creative team for the staging. The production brings together Sara Perks as Designer, Alexandra Stafford as Lighting Designer, Kate Marlais as Composer, Musical Director, and Sound Designer, Michelle Edwards as Movement Director, and Ellie Collyer-Bristow CDG as Casting Director.
What to Expect for Visitors
Audiences attending the run can look forward to special community touches during opening week. The very first preview performance will operate on a ‘Pay What You Choose’ pricing structure, giving visitors the flexibility to pay whatever amount suits them. Additionally, the York Theatre Royal Choir will perform special foyer sets ahead of the curtain on both opening night and press night on 14 October.
This staging marks the first major UK revival of the production since its original 2007 premiere at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon, which was staged jointly by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Canada’s National Arts Centre.
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