In an unprecedented move, Shakespeare's Globe will be staging 38 Shakespeare plays over 6 weeks in 38 different languages. It promises to be a fantastic event, with everything from a Chinese Richard III, to a Hebrew production of The Merchant of Venice, and a British Sign Language production of Love's Labour's Lost, there is an unrivaled selection of treasures to be explored in this once in a lifetime opportunity to see some of the most exciting and diverse theatre makers in the world. Don't miss this.
Other Blessed Plots will be blogging from every single one of these productions. Come back here in April for opinions on, and discussions of, all of those productions.
In April we'll be providing a preview guide to this unique festival.
Don't miss it.
World Shakespeare Festival, Venues across the country, April to September
If the Globe to Globe festival wasn't enough, this larger festival promises a wider range of productions across the country, with British based companies, and international companies providing new productions in London, Stratford, and Edinburgh. There are too many highlight to mention individually, but Dmitry Krymov's intriguing Russian production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (As You Like It) at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre should be worth catching, with The National Theatre of Wales site specific production of Coriolan/us somewhere in Wales could be a spectacular addition to the already fine repertoire that the company has established. Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad sounds interesting too, while the RSC's What Country Friends is This? season at the Roundhouse sounds promising with its stellar ensemble.
The Master and Margarita, Complicite, Barbican, March to April
Twenty Eleven was a quiet year for Complicite after the spoils of Twenty Ten, but this new adaptation of Bulgakov's classic satire of Soviet Russia and modern politics certainly wets the appetite for future spoils. Featuring an ensemble of established Complicitie actors, along with the usual mix of video, sound, and beautifully choreographed sequences, this is a production not to be missed. Their operatic production of Bulgakov's shorter Dog' Heart at the ENO in 2010 was one of the most thrilling productions I've ever seen, while the mind blowing Disappearing Number changed my understanding of maths and theatre forever.
Tis' A Pity She's A Whore, Cheek By Jowl, Babrican
Judging by early reports coming out of Paris, Declan Donellean and his illustrious colleagues at Cheek By Jowl have once again woven their magic on John Ford's Jacobean tragedy. Featuring a bright, young, and talented cast led by the up and coming Lydia Wilson as Annabella, this modern take on Ford's tragedy follows hot on the heels of the highly acclaimed productions of The Tempest, Macbeth, and Troilus and Cressida that have graced the Barbican's awkward stage over the past few years.
The Changeling, Young Vic, January to February
Joe Hill-Gibbons follows his highly acclaimed productions of The Beauty Queen of Leenane and The Glass Menagerie with this new take of Middleton and Rowley's brutal Jacobean tragedy. Presented in the intimate Maria, with a potentially scintillating cast led by Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Jessica Raine, and a set by Ultz (the man responsible for the multi-award winning Jerusalem set ) this will probably be a total sell out by the time you read this. Do whatever you can to get a ticket.
The Duchess of Malfi, Young Vic, March to June
Another Jacobean tragedy finds its way onto a London stage this spring. Directed by Jamie Lloyd, who was practically Michael Grandage's right hand man at the Donmar Warehouse, and featuring a cast led by Eve Best (who played a fiesty Beatrice in the Globe's joyous summer revival of Much Ado About Nothing), this should be well worth a visit. Expect gore. Lots of gore.
Twelfth Night/ Richard III, Shakespeare's Globe, July to October
Capping off a remarkable year for the Bankside venue, former artistic director Mark Rylance makes a triumphant return to the Globe in one of the most anticipated performances of the year. Directed by long term collaborator Tim Carroll, Rylance will tackle Richard III, a character you would expect him to excel in, and revive his his acclaimed Olivier award winning turn as Olivia in Twelfth Night. Expect tickets to be like gold dust by the summer so book early to avoid disappointment.
No comments:
Post a Comment