Samuel West - Julius Caesar, The Ice and upcoming projects; Hamlet discussion and the They're Your Rights campaign

Sam will play Brutus in Julius Caesar at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield between 18 May and 10 June. The production will be directed by new artistic director Rob Hastie (via Baz Bamigboye's Twitter, @BazBam).
This is a return to Sheffield for Sam. He previously worked there 2005-2007, when he was artistic director of Sheffield Theatres. During his tenture, he directed The Romans in Britain, The Clean House and As You Like It; and acted in Much Ado About Nothing, A Number and Family Voices.

He narrates the audiobook of The Ice by Laline Paull (his Twitter, @exitthelemming). Paull tweeted a picture of Sam from the recording in early April. The audiobook will be released 4 May (Harper Audio/SoundCloud - this page has a clip from the audiobook).

Sam will play James Oswood in an upcoming episode of series 19 of Midsomer Murders (United Agents). It is possibly episode 5 "Death by Persuasion" - according to IMDB the character Polly also has the surname Oswood. According to IMDB the episode will be broadcast in December. Sam confirmed that the character he plays is in episode 5, "Death by Persuasion".
He previously had a guest role on the show in series 10 - he played Jeremy Thacker in "The Animal Within".

A month ago, Sam tweeted that he played a horse. Currently unknown what project the character is for.

Neigh, neigh and thrice neigh. Playing my first horse this week. Not allowed to say what in yet.

— Samuel West (@exitthelemming) March 14, 2017

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In early April, he narrated the Channel 4 documentary Spying on the Royals (@exitthelemming).

The British Library blog has a post about "Music and poetry from the Zweig Collection", a performance from 20 March featuring Sam as Stefan Zweig.

Sam and tenor Allan Clayton discussed Hamlet in a podcast from Glyndebourne Opera in mid March (via @exitthelemming). Sam played Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Company 2001-2002; Steven Pimlott directed the production. Allan will play Hamlet in a new opera version by composer Brett Dean and librettist Matthew Jocelyn that will premiere at Glyndebourne in June.

A new headshot has been added to his profile on the United Agents website.



(The above screencaps from the They're Your Rights video are thumbnails - click them for full size)
Click here to view Sam's speech for the They're Your Rights campaign (@exitthelemming). He initially delivered the speech in February at an event by 89up and Free Word. A clip from the speech featuring Sam quoting King Lear is here.

In late March, Olivia Colman and Sam presented a Hearts for the Arts Award to Lewisham Council (@exitthelemming). The council received the award for Meet Me at the Albany, an initiative for older people to visit an arts centre.
Sam wrote the questions for the Bush Theatre charity quiz (and prepared the chocolate tasting round) - from his Twitter. He was also the quizmaster for last year's quiz.