Upcoming at the RSC

– October 24, 2009Posted in: london, preview, stratford, theatre

There’s a bunch of new stuff coming up from the RSC, and a few old favourites.  In no particular order:

  • Twelfth Night comes to the Hampstead Theatre this winter courtesy of the unstoppable Gregory Doran. Solid casting include Richard Wilson as Malvolio, James Fleet (who you will remember from Four Weddings, or perhaps The Observer if you’re a bit more of a geek), Nancy Carroll (who was charming in Arcadia this summer) and Alexandra Gilbreath who (as wikipedia notes) “is possibly best known to ITV audiences for being the original ‘Sun Hill Serial Killer’ Pat Kitson on The Bill”). Duke of Yorks Theatre from 19 December to 27 February.
  • Dunsinane at the Hampstead Theatre looks interesting, a new commission from David Greig. 10 February to 6 March.
  • If you can bear the trip to Stratford, then Greg Hicks tries out King Lear, directed by David Farr
  • Rupert Goold (who seems to be just everywhere at the moment, what with ENRON and Turandot), directs Sam Troughton (Brutus in the recent Julius Caesar but most celebrated, in my book at least, for his work on Alien Vs Predator) and Mariah Gale (Mr Tennant’s Ophelia) as Romeo and Juliet.  In rep at Stratford from 12 March to 27 August.
  • Julius Caesar, As You Like It and Winter’s Tale return to rep between July and September
  • Michael Boyd takes on Antony and Cleopatra, with Darrell D’Silva and Kathryn Hunter. In rep at Stratford 10 April to 28 August
  • Gregory Doran directs a new adaptation of Morte D’Arthur, in rep 11 June to 28 August
  • And last, and definitely least, Days of Significance is still clunking its way awkwardly around the provinces almost two years after beginning its life in Stratford

All in all, a pretty solid set of things to get your teeth into, and a nice mix of London and Stratford. Personally speaking, I think only Julius Caesar (which I missed last time around) and Morte D’Arthur are going to compel me to endure two and a half hours in the company of Chiltern Railways, but Antony and Cleopatra also looks interesting, as does King Lear.

Public booking for all of this opens on 18 November or now if you’re a member. Don’t forget that youngsters can get £5 tickets if they get in quick or free tickets on Tuesdays until February as part of A Night Less Ordinary.

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