Royal Shakespeare Company Sets Winter 2016 Season, Celebrating The Bard's 400th Anniversary

The RSC brings Shakespeare's 400th anniversary year in Stratford to a close with a powerful programme, matching two major Shakespeare titles with two irreverent Jacobean comedies and a new play from Anders Lustgarten, which plays out across 400 years between Caravaggio's Naples and the housing estates of Bootle.

RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran, said: "We will draw this extraordinary jubilee year in Stratford-upon-Avon to a close by staging two of Shakespeare's greatest plays - King Lear and The Tempest - and by marking the 30th anniversary of our Swan Theatre with two new productions of plays from its very first season and a visceral new play by Anders Lustgarten.

"Inspired by the spectacular masques of Shakespeare's day, we have set ourselves the challenge of creating the most technologically advanced production we have ever staged in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, working with Intel and The Imaginarium Studios. We will blend ancient theatre skills with innovative digital technology to conjure up Prospero's island, inhabited by fantastical characters, in Shakespeare's most magical late play The Tempest.

"I cannot think of a clearer way of showing the 'infinite variety' of Shakespeare's work and the inspiration he has provided over the centuries. Shakespeare is for everyone and we want to share his legacy with the widest possible audience. His inheritance is for the many, not the few.

"Earlier in 2016, all over the UK, people can come and see our landmark production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, tune in on Shakespeare's birthday to 'The Shakespeare Show', celebrating his influence in all the arts and broadcast live on BBC Two, or encourage their children to watch our free Schools' Broadcasts in the classroom.

"And, of course, the whole town of Stratford-upon-Avon will be buzzing with live theatre, events, workshops, films and exhibitions as we continue to celebrate its greatest son here, across the UK and in cinemas and on tour around the world. If you've never been to his home town in Stratford-upon-Avon, or seen his work on stage, this surely must be the time to do so."

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE

Cymbeline by William Shakespeare

Directed by Melly Still

Press night: Tuesday 10 May 7pm

Extended season from 29 April - 15 October 2016. Live in cinemas, distributed by Picturehouse Entertainment - 28 September 2016 and selected encore dates.

Shakespeare's rarely performed romance, directed by Melly Still, has an extended season. Cymbeline, played by Gillian Bevan, is Queen of a divided Britain. When Innogen, the only living heir, marries her sweetheart in secret, a furious Cymbeline banishes her new husband. Distracted by this marriage, Cymbeline is blind to a powerful figure behind the throne who is plotting to seize power. In exile, Innogen's husband is tricked into believing she has been unfaithful and begins a scheme to have her murdered. Innogen runs away in disguise on a journey which will eventually reconcile the lovers and reunite Cymbeline with a lost heir.

The production is designed by Anna Fleischle, with lighting by Philip Gladwell and music by Dave Price.

Audio-described performances, 23 July and 11 August, captioned performances 4 June and 30 September.

King Lear by William Shakespeare

Directed by Gregory Doran

In repertoire from 20 August - 15 October 2016. Live in cinemas, distributed by Picturehouse Entertainment - 12 October 2016 and selected encore dates.

Press night: Thursday 1 September, 7pm

Following his performance as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's great 20th century American tragedy, Death of A Salesman, Antony Sher returns to Stratford-upon-Avon to play King Lear, one of the greatest parts ever written by Shakespeare.

As age begins to overtake him, King Lear decides to divide his kingdom amongst his children and live out his days without the burden of power. He allows vanity to cloud his judgement and misjudging his children's loyalty, soon finds himself stripped of all the trappings of state, wealth and power he had taken for granted. Alone in the wilderness, he is left to confront the mistakes of a life that has brought him to this point.

The production is directed by Gregory Doran and designed by Nikki Turner.

Audio-described performances, 23 July and 11 August, captioned performances 4 June and 30 September.

The Tempest by William Shakespeare

In collaboration with Intel and in association with The Imaginarium Studios

Directed by Gregory Doran

In a straight run of performances from 8 November 2016 - 21 January 2017

Press night: Thursday 17 November, 7pm

The RSC concludes the 400th anniversary year with a new production of Shakespeare's late play, The Tempest, which marries his work with cutting edge technology.

This captivating story of magic, spells and spirits sees the RSC's skills at theatre-making come together with the digital power and creativity of Intel and the expertise of Imaginarium in pushing technical boundaries, to create a truly innovative production which provides the perfect introduction to Shakespeare for families, and a magical and unforgettable experience for a new generation.

On a distant island a man waits. Robbed of his position, power and wealth his enemies have left him to live out his days in isolation. But this is no ordinary man, and this no ordinary island. Prospero is a magician, able to control the very elements and bend nature to his will. When a sail appears on the horizon, he reaches out across the ocean to the ship that contains the men who wronged him. Creating a vast magical storm, he wrecks the ship and washes his enemies up on the shore. When they wake they find themselves lost on a fantastical island where nothing is as it seems.

The Tempest will be directed by Gregory Doran and designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis, with Paul Englishby composing the music. RSC Associate Artist, Simon Russell Beale, returns to the Company after 20 years to play Prospero. He last performed with the RSC as Ariel in Sam Mendes' production of The Tempest in 1996.

Audio-described performances 10 December and 7 January, captioned performances 15 December and 20 January.

THE SWAN

The RSC marks the 30th birthday of the Swan Theatre by staging two new productions of plays from its first season and a newly commissioned play.

The Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher

Directed by Blanche McIntyre

In repertoire from 17 August 2016 - 9 February 2017

Press night: Wednesday 24 August, 7pm

Two best friends, knights at arms, are captured in battle and imprisoned. From their window they see a beautiful woman and both fall instantly in love with her, turning from intimate friendship to jealous rivalry in the space of a minute. One is released and goes AWOL in the woods of Athens, searching for a way to be near his beloved. When the jailer's daughter frees the other, and follows him into the forest herself, the stage is set for absurd adventures and painful confusions in this study of the intoxication and strangeness of love.

Attributed to Fletcher and Shakespeare and written around 1613-14, The Two Noble Kinsmen is based on Chaucer's The Knight's Tale. This tragicomedy was the first production staged in the Swan Theatre when it opened 30 years ago, with Gerard Murphy and Hugh Quarshie as the 'kinsmen' of the title.

Blanche McIntyre (The Oresteia, Home 2015, As You Like It, Shakespeare's Globe 2015) directs, making her RSC debut.

Audio-described performances, 12 November and 11 January, captioned performances 2 November and 20 December.

The Rover by Aphra Behn

Directed by Loveday Ingram

In repertoire from 8 September 2016 - 11 February 2017

Press night: Thursday 15 September, 7pm

Three wandering cavaliers, exiled from Cromwell's England, meet up in a Spanish colony as carnival begins. Meanwhile three wealthy sisters escape their overbearing brother and disappear into the city in search of love. As night falls and the wine flows, chaos ensues. Passions run high as lovers meet, men are conned and swords drawn. Aphra Behn's anarchic restoration comedy is rich with seduction, intrigue and danger in the topsy-turvy world of the carnival.

Arguably the first ever professional female playwright in England, Behn's is a strong voice of early feminism. Written in 1677, The Rover was last staged in 1986 as part of the Swan Theatre's first season, with Jeremy Irons as Wilman. It makes a return now to celebrate this much loved theatre in its 30th year.

Loveday Ingram (The Merchant of Venice, 2001) returns to the RSC to direct. Her recent work includes Richard III (Nottingham Playhouse/York Theatre Royal, 2013), These Shining Leaves (Park Theatre), and Outlying Islands (Theatre Royal Bath, 20016). Design is by Lez Brotherston and lighting by Tim Lutkin.

Audio-described performances, 22 October and 19 November, captioned performances 5 and 25 January.

The Seven Acts of Mercy by Anders Lustgarten

In repertoire from 24 November 2016 - 11 February 2017

Press night: Thursday 1 December, 7pm

Naples,1606. Inside an unfinished church, a painting is emerging from the darkness. The Seven Acts of Mercy is Caravaggio's masterpiece - and his first painting since he killed a man and fled Rome. As the artist works, he is fuelled by anger, self-loathing and his driving need to create a work that speaks of compassion in a violent world. Bootle, the present day: a retired dock worker teaches his grandson, as around them a community is disintegrating under the pressure of years of economic and political degradation. With all he has left, a book of great works of art, he tries to open the boy's eyes to the tragedy and beauty of the life he faces. And the boy reciprocates in the only way he knows.

Playing out across a gap of 400 years, Anders Lustgarten's visceral new play confronts the dangerous necessity of compassion, in a world where it is in short supply.

This will be the first play by Anders Lustgarten to be produced by the RSC. He won the inaugural Harold Pinter Playwright's Award for If You Don't Let Us Dream We Won't Let You Sleep at the Royal Court Theatre Downstairs and is adapting David Peace's The Damned United for a National Theatre tour. His latest play, Lampedusa, about the current refugee crisis has had two successful runs at the Soho Theatre and Hightide Festival, and will go on tour during this year.

Audio-described performances, 18 and 28 January, captioned performances 12 January and 9 February.

THE OTHER PLACE

The RSC will open the doors to a new The Other Place in March 2016, with a brand new studio theatre, new rehearsal room and a new café bar, as well as a home for 30,000 costumes. A new discovery tour will take visitors on a journey from Page to Stage, from the first day of rehearsals to the first performance, with an opportunity to look inside the RSC's costume store for the very first time. Booking open now. Tickets £8.50, plus concessions and group rates.

The first RSC performances in The Other Place will take place in late summer, commissioned from a provocation in 2015, when Deputy Artistic Director, Erica Whyman, asked twenty writers, theatre makers and directors to explore whether anything is truly unsayable in Britain in the 21st Century. Led by Erica and playwright, Mark Ravenhill, the event included conversations with Rev. Giles Fraser, graphic novelist, Darryl Cunningham, and journalist, Lucy Mangan. There were some astonishing, passionate and provocative responses, two of which will be presented in a festival of new work in late July. Further details to be announced in Spring 2016.

The Other Place has been made possible thanks to the support of private and public funders, including very generous donations from ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND, THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, BACKSTAGE TRUST, J PAUL GETTY JR CHARITABLE TRUST and a new creative partnership with the UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, Founding Partner of The Other Place.

Education

As part of the RSC's commitment to give every young person a great first experience of Shakespeare, the Company gives all UK schools the opportunity to broadcast Othello for free, live in their classrooms on Thursday 17 March, during Shakespeare Week, during Shakespeare Week, the national celebration of Shakespeare for primary schools coordinated by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Further schools' broadcasts of The Merchant of Venice will follow on 21 April, and of Hamlet in the autumn of 2016, date to be confirmed.

Every UK school will receive a free copy of the Shakespeare Lives pack, created by the RSC in partnership with the British Council to mark Shakespeare's 400th anniversary. The pack celebrates Shakespeare as a writer who still speaks for all people and nations, addressing big questions and themes about the human experience and what it means to be a citizen in the twenty-first century.

The RSC also invites schools around the UK to perform in its first ever two-week long Playmaking Festival, the culmination of Dream Team 2016. Schools are invited to 'Bring their Dreams to Stratford' and join in the festival, celebrating creativity and talent in primary and secondary schools across the nations through performances of Shakespeare's most accessible and best loved play, A Midsummer Night's Dream.

And the RSC will celebrate 10 years of extraordinary achievement by more than 400 schools, 10 regional theatre partners and over 750,000 young people in its Learning and Performance Network with a special Symposium on 5 July 2016 entitled 'Whose Culture?'. The symposium will explore what it really takes to unlock Shakespeare in primary and secondary schools and enable his work to be truly owned and celebrated by young people from all backgrounds and of all ages.

Events and Exhibitions

Stan's Cafe: Shakespeare Steps

In association with Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare's Schoolroom and Guildhall, supported by the Stratford Society and Guild Chapel.

Visitors to Stratford are invited to step into Shakespeare's shoes and stage mini scenes from his life and works. People can look for footsteps, handprints and speech bubbles on the pavement as they walk from Shakespeare's birthplace along the town's historic spine, via his schoolroom and up to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. This free self-guided tour runs from January onwards.

Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations

Everyone is invited to join the traditional celebrations on 23 April for Shakespeare's birthday and to take part in a fun-packed day of free outdoor events for all the family, including a specially-commissioned breathtaking show, Wondrous Strange, by acrobatic company, Mimbre, inspired by Shakespeare's stories. The day will end with a spectacular free firework display, produced by Emergency Exit.

For those who can't make it to Stratford, The Shakespeare Show (working title) will be broadcast live on BBC Two. A unique collaboration between the RSC and the BBC, this special evening, hosted by David Tennant, will celebrate Shakespeare's legacy across all the arts.

The Play's The Thing exhibition

A new exhibition opens on 25 June, celebrating the magic of Shakespeare on stage and revealing the secrets and stories from over 100 years of theatre-making in Stratford-upon-Avon. Full of treasures from our archive and museum collection, including rarely seen props, exquisite costumes and original set designs, the exhibition showcases the inspiration and amazing craft behind the RSC's work and will be jam-packed with hands-on activities and digital interactives to spark the imagination. Tickets £8.50, plus concessions and group rates.

The refurbishment of the Swan Wing and The Play's The Thing have been made possible through a £2.8 million award from the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND, with generous support from the GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION, DCMS/WOLFSON MUSEUMS & GALLERIES IMPROVEMENT FUND,THE WOLFSON FOUNDATION and many other generous supporters.

Live from Stratford-upon-Avon

Live Cinema Broadcasts around the world from Shakespeare's home town, distributed by Picturehouse Entertainment.

Hamlet - 8 June 2016 and selected dates worldwide.

Cymbeline - 28 September 2016 and selected dates worldwide.

King Lear - 12 October 2016 and selected dates worldwide

To post a comment, you must register and login.