Shakespeare's Globe Celebrates Valentines W/ YOUNG HEARTS

Shakespeare's Globe celebrates Valentine's Day, Saturday 14 February, with the launch of public booking for its 2009 theatre season Young Hearts. The season opens on Shakespeare's birthday, Thursday 23 April, and will include four Shakespeare plays and three pieces of new writing that explore the great expanse of the heart - from purity to wild passion, and from the rekindling of old love to an evergreen love of life.

Recently described as the beating heart of theatrical London, Shakespeare's Globe continues to go from strength to strength. The 2008 theatre season attracted over 330,000 theatre-goers, averaging 85% capacity attendance across the entire season - a bold achievement for a company that continues to operate without public subsidy.

Award-winning director Thea Sharrock will direct at the Globe for the first time, with her first ever Shakespeare production - As You Like It. Sharrock's recent projects include Cloud Nine (Almeida); Happy Now and The Emperor Jones (National Theatre), A Voyage Round My Father (Donmar Warehouse and West End) and Equus (Gielgud Theatre and Broadway).

Early casting for the season promises a continuation of the Globe's ability to spot fresh young talent. Ellie Kendrick as Juliet received great acclaim for her recent performance as Anne Frank in the BBC dramatisation of The Diary of Anne Frank. Naomi Frederick will play Rosalind in As You Like It and is currently performing in Audrey Affleck in Mrs Affleck (National Theatre). Naomi's other roles include Laura in Brief Encounter for Kneehigh Theatre Company and Isabella in Measure for Measure for Complicité at The National Theatre.

Other casting includes well known New Zealand actor Rawiri Paratene as Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet - recognised for his lead role in the 2002 film, The Whale Rider. Penny Downie will play Helen in Frank McGuinness's new play, and recent stage roles include Gertrude in Hamlet and Penelope in The Penelopiad (RSC).

Following their explosive partnership at the Globe in 2008, writer Ché Walker and director Matthew Dunster have a promising year ahead, including a revival of their triumphant hit The Frontline at the Globe in May 2009. Matthew Dunster will direct the Globe's first full-scale production of Troilus and Cressida in July, as well as Macbeth at the Royal Exchange Manchester in February and You Can See The Hills for the Young Vic in April. Ché Walker's feisty musical Been So Long premières at the Young Vic in June.

As part of the 200th anniversary celebrations for the British revolutionary Thomas Paine, the Globe is delighted to present Trevor Griffiths' (Comedians, Reds) eagerly anticipated play A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine, to be directed by artistic director Dominic Dromgoole. Griffiths' timing on this subject couldn't be more poignant, considering the recent references to Paine's work in President Obama's inauguration speech. This much-loved and greatly respected writer promises a moving story full of songs, music and the huge carnival spirit of a world turned upside down.

Shakespeare's Globe makes its first excursion into full-scale Greek drama with a version of Euripides' Helen by Frank McGuinness (Someone Who'll Watch Over Me and Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme), to be directed by Deborah Bruce. Deborah's recent projects include Musik (Oxford Stage Company), Geoff Dead: Disco for Sale (Live Theatre Newcastle), Blame (Arcola) and Scarborough (Royal Court and Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh). Renowned playwright McGuinness follows his acclaimed version of Oedipus at The National Theatre with a funny and exciting treatment of Euripides' strange, comic, fairy-tale-like romance.

Artistic director Dominic Dromgoole will direct three of the season's productions including Romeo and Juliet, which launches the season on Shakespeare's Birthday, 23 April; A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine by Trevor Griffiths; and a revival of his 2007 production of Love's Labour's Lost, prior to its North American tour in the autumn.

The Academy Award-winning composer Stephen Warbeck will collaborate with Shakespeare's Globe on the scores for As You Like It and A New World. Claire van Kampen, the Globe's former director of music, will compose the music for Helen, as well as reviving her score for Love's Labour's Lost. Nigel Hess returns to the Globe as the composer for Romeo and Juliet following his delightful score to the 2008 production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Olly Fox will compose for Troilus and Cressida as well as the revival of The Frontline.

In addition to its main stage programme, Shakespeare's Globe will continue its commitment to touring. During summer 2009, two new small-scale productions - The Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night's Dream - will visit beautiful outdoor venues across the UK and Europe, reviving The Old Globe principle of outdoor playing.

Public booking for the season opens on 14 February 2009, when tickets will be available through the box office: 020 7401 9919 / 020 7087 7398 or online: www.shakespeares-globe.org.

 

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