National Theatre of Scotland & Royal Shakespeare Company's DUNSINANE Coming to CST

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomes the world-renowned National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company's Dunsinane-a captivating sequel to Shakespeare's Macbeth-in its US Premiere tour. Written by David Greig and directed by Roxana Silbert, this World's Stage Series presentation explores one man's attempt to restore peace in a country consumed by war following the bloody conclusion of Shakespeare's timeless drama. Dunsinane takes Scotland's real history and dramatically reimagines the chapter after Macbeth's death. These two distinguished theaters join forces to present Dunsinane at Chicago Shakespeare Theater for a limited engagement February 26 through March 22, 2015.

At the outset of Dunsinane, Macbeth is dead. Under cover of night, the English army has swept in, killed the tyrant and claimed Scotland's seat of power. English commanding officer Siward finds his efforts to restore order futile as the situation spins out of control. Struggling to grasp the alien customs and politics of this harsh country, he finds himself drawn towards Macbeth's powerful widow, Gruach. In keeping with true historical events, Lady Macbeth has outlived her husband and seeks to enforce her familial claim to the throne.

Fierce one minute and funny the next, Dunsinane infuses a dark story with rich humor to create a lively, vital examination of power-illuminating uncanny parallels between Scotland's medieval and present-day political landscapes on the heels of the recent hotly contested Scottish Referendum vote. London's The Times proclaims, "If it's riveting spectacle, challenging ideas and human drama you want, this is the show to see." The Guardian calls the production "a work of compelling intelligence, provocation and wit." After premiering at London's Hampstead Theatre in 2010, Dunsinane enjoyed extended runs at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan Theatre and in theaters around Scotland before highly successful tours to East Asia, Russia and now the United States.

Chicago audiences will remember the work of playwright David Greig from the National Theatre of Scotland's presentation of The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart in the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare in the fall of 2012. In addition to a longstanding partnership with the National Theatre of Scotland, Greig's critically acclaimed plays have been translated and produced throughout Europe, the United States and Canada, Brazil, Australia, Japan and Korea. This is the fifth time that Chicago Shakespeare has welcomed a National Theatre of Scotland production to Chicago as part of the World's Stage Series; previous productions The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart (2012), Black Watch (2011, 2012) and Long Gone Lonesome (2012) inspired audiences with the Theatre's impassioned storytelling and imaginative stagings.

Dunsinane Director Roxana Silbert is an associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she develops and commissions new work. She also serves as the artistic director of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. At the RSC, she has most recently directed Richard III, A Life of Galileo, Measure for Measure and Such Tweet Sorrow-the world's first play for Twitter. For Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Ms. Silbert directed the world premiere of Orphans by Dennis Kelly in 2009. This production also played at the Traverse during the Edinburgh Fringe where it won a Fringe First award.

Scottish leading lady Siobhan Redmond performs the role of Macbeth's widow Gruach, joined by British stage and screen actor Darrell D'Silva in the role of Siward. Ewan Donald (Malcolm), Keith Fleming (Macduff), Alex Mann (Egham) return to Dunsinane for the US premiere tour. An ensemble featuring George Brockbanks, Helen Darbyshire, Tom Gill, Toyin Omari Kinch, Arthur McBain, Matt McClure and Mairi Morrison complete the cast.

In addition to Director Roxana Silbert, the Dunsinane creative team includes Robert Innes Hopkins (Designer), Chahine Yavroyan (Lighting Designer), Nick Powell (Composer and Sound Designer), Luke Kernaghan (Associate Director), Anna Morrissey (Movement Director), Polly Bennett (Associate Movement Director), Terry King (Fight Director), Stephen Kemble (Voice Coach) and Ruth Cooper-Brown (Archery Consultant). Musical scoring is provided by Music Director Rosalind Acton (Cello), Robert Owen (Percussion) and Andy Taylor (Guitarist).

For a complete listing and bios of the company and creative team, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/dunsinane.

Dunsinane will be performed in CST's Courtyard Theater February 26-March 22, 2015. Tickets are on sale now for $58-$78 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40% discount on guaranteed parking in Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

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