The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced full casting for its 2026 production of Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, marking the play’s RSC debut. Mark Gatiss will star in the title role in a politically charged production directed by Seán Linnen.

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui follows a criminal figure’s ascent in Chicago, serving as a political satire on Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Adapted by Stephen Sharkey, this production will run at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 11 April to 30 May 2026, with press night on 21 April.

Mark Gatiss takes on the lead role of Arturo Ui. Mawaan Rizwan, making his Royal Shakespeare Company debut, plays Giri, while Kadiff Kirwan, also a newcomer to the company, plays Roma. Janie Dee returns to the RSC as Betty Dullfeet, supported by Christopher Godwin as Dogsborough and LJ Parkinson as Givola.

The ensemble cast further includes Joe Alessi, Valerie Antwi, Mark Hammersley, Rebekah Hinds, Cameron Johnson, Samuel Nunes de Souza, Mahesh Parmar, Santino Smith and Amanda Wilkin.

Seán Linnen makes his RSC directorial debut with this production. His creative team features Georgia Lowe on set and costume design, Robbie Butler on lighting, and a score by Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal of Placebo. Sound design is by Johnny Edwards, with movement direction from Jennifer Jackson and fight direction by Haruka Kuroda.

Linnen described the play as “a howl from history begging us to do things differently,” emphasising its relevance to today’s political climate. He highlighted the production’s “ferocious wit and theatricality” alongside its “darkly seductive” music.

This will be the Royal Shakespeare Company’s inaugural staging of Brecht’s work, reflecting a growing interest in politically charged theatre that interrogates contemporary global events.