The first pictures from the rehearsal room for The Three Musketeers, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Christmas show made with Told by an Idiot, are out, a little under four weeks before the production starts its run in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The set, taken by Manuel Harlan, catches Paul Hunter’s company at work on his version of the Alexandre Dumas novel, which he has adapted and is directing. Hunter co-founded Told by an Idiot and still runs it as artistic director, and the rehearsal room looks very much like one of theirs: a trumpet, a pair of coconut shells and a stuck-on moustache all make an appearance.
The full company was named last month, when we reported Simon Oskarsson’s casting as D’Artagnan, and these photographs put faces to most of the leading roles. Simon Oskarsson turns up in several of them, squaring up to Ayesha Antoine as Porthos in one and in conversation with Martin Hyder’s Monsieur Treville in another. Sophie Russell (Athos) and Patricia Rodríguez (Aramis) make up the rest of the trio, while Nick Haverson, who doubles as Cardinal Richelieu and Jean Claude, is pictured clutching the coconuts.
They are joined by Aitor Basauri as The Plot Teller, Laura Rogers as Milady, Tanvi Virmani as Constance, Matt Gavan as The King, Jasmine Elcock as The Queen, Michael Elcock as Rochefort, David Olaniregun as Buckingham, Natalie Kimmerling as Kitty and Kimmy Edwards as Abbess and Landlady, a part Hyder shares as Landlord. Greg Bernstein, Kelise Gordon-Harrison and Theo Reece complete the ensemble.
Away from the stage, Michael Vale designs the set and costumes, Aideen Malone the lighting and Tingying Dong the sound, with music composed by Ian Ross. Jennifer Jackson is the choreographer, Jos Houben the physical comedy consultant and Stewart Pringle the dramaturg; casting is by Matthew Dewsbury CDG.
The Three Musketeers runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from Saturday 28 November 2026 to Saturday 9 January 2027, with press night on Tuesday 8 December 2026.
For more information, visit the official website.
