The Royal Shakespeare Company Announces Summer Season, National Tour, BBC Partnership

By: Sep. 03, 2014
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The Royal Shakespeare Company announces the summer 2015 season, 'First Encounter with Shakespeare' Tour, and BBC Partnership.

Highlights include:

· Miller Centenary: 100 years after Arthur Miller's birth, Antony Sher and Alex Hassell play Willy Loman and his eldest son, Biff, in Death of a Salesman in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

· 'Venice' season:

- Pairing of The Merchant of Venice, directed by Polly Findlay, and Othello, directed by Iqbal Khan in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre:

o Hugh Quarshie and Lucian Msamati play Othello and Iago

- Three contemporary takes on classic plays in the Swan Theatre explore the idea of the 'outsider':

o Trevor Nunn directs Henry Goodman in Volpone by Ben Jonson

o Justin Audibert and Matthew Dunster make RSC directing debuts with The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe and Love's Sacrifice by John Ford

· New 'First Encounter with Shakespeare' tour: The Famous Victories of Henry V tours schools and theatres across England in a new production specially for young people aged 8 and upwards

· A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation:

- Thirteen UK partner theatres, amateur theatre-makers and schoolchildren work with the RSC on a national tour to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 2016

- Partnership confirmed with the BBC for 2016 anniversary

- Hour-long edit of the play released so schools all over the UK can create their own productions as part of the celebrations

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE 26 March - 2 September 2015

Death of a Salesman
by Arthur Miller, directed by Gregory Doran, with Antony Sher as Willy Loman
26 March - 2 May 2015

The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare, directed by Polly Findlay
14 May - 2 September 2015

Othello
by William Shakespeare, directed by Iqbal Khan, with Hugh Quarshie in the title role and Lucian Msamati as Iago
4 June - 28 August 2015

The summer 2015 season opens with Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller's 1949 Pulitzer prize-winning play about failed dreams and thwarted ambition. Artistic Director, Gregory Doran, directs Antony Sher in the role of Willy Loman, the downtrodden salesman of the title. Alex Hassell, who plays Prince Hal alongside Antony Sher's Falstaff in the RSC's current productions of Henry IV Parts I & II, will play Willy's eldest son, Biff. The production will be designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis with lighting by Tim Mitchell.

The repertoire continues with two plays set in Venice: Shakespeare's uncompromising tragedies The Merchant of Venice andOthello.

The Merchant of Venice will be directed by Polly Findlay, in her first Shakespeare production for the RSC. Polly's production ofArden of Faversham currently plays in the Swan Theatre as part of 'The Roaring Girls' season. She has directed Protest Songat The Shed at the National Theatre and will direct Treasure Island at the National Theatre at the end of 2014.

Othello will be directed by Iqbal Khan, whose last production for the RSC was an acclaimed Much Ado About Nothing in 2012, set in India.

After more than a decade working in film and television on projects from Star Wars to Holby City, Hugh Quarshie returns to the RSC to play the title role. He last appeared with the Company in 1996 in Faust and Julius Caesar. Lucian Msamati also returns to play Iago. His most recent theatre work includes Little Revolution at the Almeida, The Amen Corner and The Comedy of Errors at the National Theatre, and Clybourne Park which also ran in the West End. His TV work includes Game of Thrones,Ashes to Ashes and The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. He last appeared at the RSC in Pericles in 2006.

SWAN THEATRE 18 March - 12 September 2015

The Jew of Malta
by Christopher Marlowe, directed by Justin Audibert
18 March - 8 September 2015

Love's Sacrifice
by John Ford, directed by Matthew Dunster
11 April - 24 June 2015

Volpone
by Ben Jonson, directed by Trevor Nunn, with Henry Goodman in the title role
3 July - 12 September 2015

The Venice season crosses both houses and the themes of the main house Shakespeare productions are reflected in the Swan Theatre repertoire.

Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta opens the season, directed by Justin Audibert,
in his debut production for the RSC. Justin last worked as an assistant director with the Company in 2009-2011 and is an Artistic Associate of HighTide Festival Theatre and Associate of Told by an Idiot. The production is designed by Lily Arnold.

The play picks up the themes of racism and revenge seen in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, as it follows the Christian Governor of Malta's attempts to buy off the invading Turkish fleet with money levied from the island's Jewish population. The title character, Barabas, complains bitterly and his entire fortune is seized. He plans swift and bloody vengeance that threatens to destroy the entire island as men of all faiths ruthlessly pursue their own interests.

Love's Sacrifice by John Ford joins the repertoire. This rarely-performed play is a thrilling revenge tragedy published in 1633, which echoes Othello as it explores the destructive power of jealousy. It tells the story of the Duke of Pavia, his beautiful wife, Bianca, and his best friend, Fernando, who falls for Bianca. Racked with jealousy and her own desire for Fernando, the Duke's sister, Fiormonda, begins to manipulate her brother against his friend with the help of the villainous D'Avalos.

Matthew Dunster makes his RSC debut with the production. His most recent work includes Mametz (National Theatre Wales), The Lightning Child (Shakespeare's Globe) and
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre).

The final production is Ben Jonson's great satirical comedy Volpone, set in Venice. Former RSC Artistic Director Trevor Nunn directs, returning to the Swan Theatre for the first time, which he created and opened in 1986. During his time running the RSC he also created The Other Place and directed most of the Shakespeare canon, alongside other diverse productions such asNicholas Nickleby, Les Miserables and Peter Pan. He last returned to the company in 2007 to direct King Lear and The Seagull. The productions toured internationally and ran in London before King Lear was filmed in 2008. He last collaborated with Henry Goodman on the award-winning productions of The Merchant of Venice and Summerfolk at the National Theatre in 1999.

Henry Goodman, who returns to the Company as the 'Fox' of the title, was last with the RSC as Richard III in 2003 and has recently been at the National Theatre in The Holy Rosenbergs and as the eponymous Arturo Ui in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui in the West End last year. Volpone is designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis.

SHAKESPEARE NATION

The RSC continues its journey through all 36 of Shakespeare's plays in the First Folio, making every play an event and sharing his work with audiences everywhere.

Working across the nation over the next two years, the Company will build on the successes of its national outreach programmes leading to the Shakespeare anniversary year of 2016. In a unique collaboration the RSC brings together its 400-strong Learning and Performance Network of schools and regional theatres, the Open Stages network of amateur companies and theatre partners, as well as its long-standing relationships with UK touring venues.

First Encounter: The Famous Victories of Henry V

Following the success of this year's First Encounter production of The Taming of the Shrew, the RSC has commissioned its next specially-adapted production for younger audiences.

The Famous Victories of Henry V condenses the three great plays of Henry IV Parts I & II and Henry V into a 90 minute adventure for 8 - 13 year olds. Using Shakespeare's original language, the production introduces notorious bad boy Prince Hal as he swaps his rebellious life on the streets of London for the battlefields of France to become one of the most famous heroes in British history. Hal's epic journey into adulthood will lead its young audience through a life of scandal, parties, friendships, family feuds, rebellion and new responsibilities, ending in glorious victory as the once infamous Prince of England becomes the brave and noble King Henry V.

The title of The Famous Victories is taken from an early play that may have inspired Shakespeare to write the Henry plays.

The production complements the RSC's recent History plays and will be directed by Owen Horsley, making his directing debut for the RSC. Owen is currently assistant director for Gregory Doran on the Henry IV productions and is Artistic Director of Eyestring Theatre Company and Associate Director at Cheek by Jowl.

Following its opening in Stratford-upon-Avon in June 2015, The Famous Victories of Henry V will tour to schools and theatres across England who all form part of the RSC's long term education partnership programme, the Learning and Performance Network. The production takes place in the 600th anniversary year since the battle of Agincourt and will be supported by a full education programme. It takes the RSC's work into the heart of communities and will play in school halls and theatre spaces across the country, including Hull, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle under Lyme, Southampton and York.

A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation

The RSC will work with thirteen theatre partners and a vast range of amateur theatre-makers across the UK to produce a play for the whole nation. This special production combines two years of touring as it is created for and will mark the 400thanniversary of Shakespeare's death in 2016. Of all Shakespeare's plays, this one is especially loved for its delightful comedy, its magical setting and its cavalcade of glorious characters.

A professional RSC company will tour A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation for twelve weeks throughout the spring and summer of 2016. In every location, a new group of amateur performers will play Bottom and the rude mechanicals and local schoolchildren will play Titania's fairy train.

Deputy Artistic Director, Erica Whyman, will direct the production, collaborating with:

Northern Stage and Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne

Hall for Cornwall, Truro

Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury

Alhambra Theatre, Bradford

Grand Theatre, Blackpool

Lyric Theatre and Grand Opera House, Belfast

New Theatre, Cardiff

Theatre Royal, Norwich

Theatre Royal; Nottingham

Citizens Theatre, Glasgow

Barbican, London

Spring 2015: Recruitment process for the amateur performers begins, as each partner theatre selects amateur groups. The RSC and partners will share skills with the amateurs through a series of workshops throughout the spring and summer, during which 90 amateur actors will be selected.

Summer 2015: Schools across the country, some of whom are already involved in the RSC's Learning and Performance Network, will be invited to take part in workshops for teachers and whole-school activities for students. Children from local primary and secondary schools in each region will be cast as Titania's fairy train from September 2015. Around 480 children across the UK will perform in the production.

Autumn 2015: The amateur performers will prepare for their roles through a training programme with Erica and regional partners and theatre-makers, exploring Shakespeare and other writers.

January 2016: Rehearsals with the professional company will begin, streamed each week from London, Stratford and two regional locations. People will be able to follow the whole story online and through a unique broadcast collaboration with the BBC, who will track the amateurs every step of the way from spring 2015 to their moment on stage in the summer of 2016.

February 2016: A Midsummer Night's Dream will open in Stratford-upon-Avon, then tour across the country, beginning in Newcastle upon Tyne and then playing a week at eleven venues with the individual amateur groups.

Summer 2016: The company returns to Stratford, where the tour will culminate in a special Midsummer month of performances in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in June 2016, featuring all the amateur actors from around the UK.

A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation is a co-production between the Royal Shakespeare Company and amateur theatre companies across the UK. This is an arrangement developed between the RSC and Equity.

Gregory Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said:

"I am looking forward to a summer of great theatre. We have a fantastic programme for 2015 with some truly exciting actors and directors on board.

"We mark the Arthur Miller centenary with one of the greatest plays of the 20th Century, Death of a Salesman, and we have taken Venice as a starting point for the summer season. We have programmed main stage work which draws on our heritage as the world's greatest Shakespeare company, and we celebrate the Swan Theatre as the home of work by Shakespeare's contemporaries, with powerful plays from Marlowe, Ford and Jonson, which resonate with Shakespeare's themes and the Venice setting as they too explore the idea of the outsider.

"We are proud to be a national company with our heart firmly in the Midlands, and I'm especially thrilled that we have combined two years of touring with a really bold programme to stage A Midsummer Night's Dream as a play with and for the nation for the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 2016."

Erica Whyman, Deputy Artistic Director, said:

"We should all feel as though Shakespeare belongs to us and yet we know that not everyone does. We want to celebrate Shakespeare's legacy as we lead up to 2016 and find new ways of bringing the pleasure of his plays to the widest audience.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream is probably the play most of us begin with, so it made sense to choose this as a title for this unique celebratory production. I am excited that we are going to be working with such an amazing range of people all over the country to make it truly 'a play for the nation' - and that we will be doing it in collaboration with our thirteen theatre partners and the BBC.

"There's some fantastic and unexpected talent out there in the amateur theatre world, and we've had the privilege to see so much of it over the last three years of Open Stages. It is a real treat to be able to bring the professional and amateur worlds together in this extraordinary tour.

"We will also build on the great education work happening up and down the country in our 400 strong Learning and Performance Network, by inviting whole schools to explore A Midsummer Night's Dream, and for some of their young students to be part of Titania's fairy train.

"It is a glorious challenge to stage this wonderful play with different casts up and down the country, but one which I am honoured to undertake!"

EDUCATION

New free Interactive Learning Resources

With the introduction of the new curriculum at Key Stage 3, the RSC launches a series of interactive, digital resources for use by teachers and students in the classroom. Alongside the Schools' Broadcasts series, which brings the Company's work into classrooms around the UK for free, the RSC has also developed these new resources specifically for KS3 students.

Interactive Learning Resources: http://interactiveresources.rsc.org.uk/

Director of Education, Jacqui O'Hanlon, said:

"The new curriculum states that students aged 11 to 14 must study two plays by Shakespeare. As the RSC stages all 36 First Folio plays over the next six years, we invite students and teachers to join us on this extraordinary journey and take the opportunity to explore less well known texts at KS3 and open up the range of plays they get exposed to at school.

"Our new resources are optimised for use on all interactive whiteboards. They introduce students to key scenes in performance; feature in-depth interviews with major characters; open up our archive of past productions; and invite students to actively engage with the plays in the way that actors and directors do in the rehearsal room. Our first interactive resource focuses on Henry IV Parts I & II. During the 14/15 academic year, we will also launch resources on The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Love's Labour's Lost, Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice and Othello. All of the resources are available for free and complement our Schools' Broadcast series.

"Looking further ahead, we will also be releasing an edited version of A Midsummer Night's Dream for schools in the UK to join our national celebration of Shakespeare's work. In addition to the text we will provide guidance for mounting a production in school."

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS

Susan Stockwell - from April 2015, RSC theatres, Stratford-upon-Avon

Renowned British artist, Susan Stockwell, will create a brand new exhibition throughout the theatres for the 2015 summer season. The exhibition will explore the work on stage and be created while she is in residence with the RSC.

Stockwell creates thought-provoking artwork made from the everyday domestic and industrial materials and products that pervade our lives. Her practice is concerned with ecology, politics, mapping, trade and global commerce. Previous work has included a world map painted in tea on dress-making patterns and a flotilla of boats made from paper currency, tickets and maps installed in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall. The exhibition is free.

Shakespeare's 'Birthday Bash' Concert

On the Birthday Weekend 2015, as Death of a Salesman plays in the main house, the RSC will create a special concert of music inspired by Shakespeare in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at 4pm on Sunday 26 April. Details to follow.

RSC collaboration with Garsington Opera

The RSC collaborates with Garsington Opera for the first time to stage an abridged version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream performed by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company, under the creative guidance of Gregory Doran, with Mendelssohn's enchanting music, sung and played the Garsington Opera Singers and Orchestra, and conducted by Douglas Boyd. Performances take place at Garsington Opera's spectacular pavilion on the Wormsley Estate in Buckinghamshire (16-18 July 2015) and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (26 July 2015).

TOURING

Henry IV Parts I & II

Gregory Doran's pair of productions play in repertoire in the Barbican after their tour to six UK towns, from 29 November this year until 24 January 2015. The RSC's free exhibition 'Is This A Dagger?' by artists Stand + Stare, will be on display in the Barbican foyer during the run of the shows, offering visitors an interactive experience into the fascinating world of theatre.

There is a new website dedicated to the productions in London, which includes new content and behind the scenes details on the shows. www.rschistories.org.uk

A Mad World My Masters

As previously announced, the RSC's production of A Mad World My Masters by Thomas Middleton will be revived and toured in an English Touring Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company co-production, as a National Touring Group initiative, from February 2015. The production will open in Wolverhampton, then play in Blackpool, Brighton, Malvern, Truro, Bath, Darlington and Cambridge before a two week run at the Barbican in London from 29 April 2015. This version of the play, adapted by Sean Foley and Phil Porter, is directed by Sean Foley, with design by Alice Power and sound and music by Ben and Max Ringham. There will be a press performance at the Barbican on Thursday 30 April 2015 at 7.30pm.

LIVE FROM STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

The RSC is the only company in the UK to offer free Schools' Broadcasts of Shakespeare's work from his home town and continues its programme of live cinema screenings with Picturehouse Entertainment. The 2015 season includes the following screenings into cinemas nationwide and internationally:

Love's Labour's Lost - 11 February 2015

Love's Labour's Won (Much Ado About Nothing) - 4 March 2015

The Merchant of Venice - 22 July 2015

For more information visit onscreen.rsc.org.uk

The Schools' Broadcasts of the above productions are with the support of Ravensbourne and Jisc's Janet network. For further information about screenings direct into the classroom and supporting resources visit http://onscreen.rsc.org.uk/education/

Press nights and performance dates

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Death of a Salesman 26 March - 2 May 2015
Press Night: Wednesday 1 April, 7pm

The Merchant of Venice 14 May - 2 September 2015
Press Night: Thursday 21 May, 7pm

Othello 4 June - 28 August 2015
Press Night: Thursday 11 June, 7pm

Swan Theatre

The Jew of Malta 18 March - 8 September 2015
Press Night: Thursday 26 March, 7pm

Love's Sacrifice 11 April - 24 June 2015
Press Night: Monday 20 April, 7pm

Volpone 3 July - 12 September 2015
Press Night: Tuesday 14 July, 7pm

First Encounter: The Famous Victories of Henry V
UK Tour June - July 2015


Booking:

To book contact www.rsc.org.uk or 0844 800 1110

Priority Plus Booking Thursday 25 September 2014
Full Members' web booking Monday 29 September 2014
Full Members' telephone booking Wednesday 1 October 2014
Associate Members' postal and web booking Monday 13 October 2014
Associate Members' telephone booking Wednesday 15 October 2014
Public Booking Wednesday 22 October 2014

Ticket schemes

BP £5 tickets for 16-25s
The BP £5 ticket scheme for 16 - 25 year olds gives access to £5 tickets for all RSC productions whether we are performing in Stratford-upon-Avon, London or on tour. Tickets can be booked in advance on the phone, online or in person with some available for sale on the day of the performance. The scheme is supported by Project Partner, BP.

Booking information and screening dates for Live from Stratford-upon-Avon:

Love's Labour's Lost 11 February 2015
Love's Labour's Won 4 March 2015
The Merchant of Venice - 22 July 2015

International screening dates to be confirmed.
For details of participating cinemas, go to onscreen.rsc.org.uk

Priority booking at Picturehouse Cinemas opens to Picturehouse Members and RSC Members from Monday 29 September 2014.

Public booking for Live from Stratford-upon-Avon screenings at all UK supporting cinemas opens Wednesday 22 October 2014.

Supporter Credits:

The RSC Ensemble is generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION

The RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST

RSC workshops, conferences and professional development courses for students and teachers are generously supported by THE CLORE DUFFIELD FOUNDATION

The Learning and Performance Network is generously supported by THE PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION

Live from Stratford-upon-Avon is generously supported by THE SIDNEY E. FRANK FOUNDATION

Open Stages is generously supported by ESMÉE FAIRBAIRN FOUNDATION

The BP £5 Tickets for 16-25 year olds is generously supported by BP

Website and Social media

www.rsc.org.uk

Follow the RSC on Twitter www.twitter.com/theRSC @TheRSC
Follow the RSC Press Office on Twitter www.twitter.com/RSCPress @RSCPress
Join us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/theRSC
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#RSCSalesman - Death of a Salesman
#RSCMerchant - The Merchant of Venice
#RSCOthello - Othello
#RSCMalta- The Jew of Malta
#RSCLoves- Love's Sacrifice
#RSCVolpone- Volpone
#RSCVictories - Famous Victories of Henry V
#Dream2016 - A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation



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