Following the success of Simon Godwin’s original film Romeo & Juliet which was filmed in the National Theatre's over 17 days during lockdown last year, the National Theatre have announced Death of England: Face to Face to be broadcast on Sky Arts this autumn.
The film by Clint Dyer, Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre, and Roy Williams (Sucker Punch) follows their acclaimed stage productions Death of England and Death of England: Delroy.
Death of England: Delroy was forced to closed on its opening night in December last year due to the reintroduction of lockdown measures by the UK Government. The performance was recorded by the National Theatre and broadcast on YouTube as part of its National Theatre at Home series.
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| Michael Balogun in Death of England: Delroy. Photo: Normski Photography |
Also directed by Clint Dyer, Death of England: Face to Face will be filmed in the Lyttelton theatre this June. Neil Maskell (Peaky Blinders, Small Axe) plays Michael, Giles Terera (Hamilton, Flack) is Delroy and Phil Daniels (I Hate Suzie, Adult Material) is Michael’s father, Alan.
Terera had been due to play Delroy in Death of England: Delroy but was forced to withdraw due to appendicitis and was replaced by the understudy to the role Michael Balogun, whose peformance was met with praise by critics. In their review of the production, WhatsOnStage said, "the greatest tribute Balgoun is that you would never know he started out as the understudy; he makes the part fit him like a glove, catching all the character's lively, boisterous energy, his anger and above all his pain."