December 5, 2009, by Peter Kirwan
Shakespeare and Co. in 2010
Here’s the so-far full list of Shakespeare and other Early Modernists I’m aware of for 2010. Almost certainly there are omissions, and if anyone has any tips of anything else relevant coming up in the new year, I’ll be happy to add it to the list (Duncan, I’m looking at you, but anyone else as well!).
Antony and Cleopatra (RSC)
Antony and Cleopatra (Nuffield, Southampton)
Arden of Faversham (Theatr Clwyd)
As You Like It (Bridge Project)
Comedy of Errors (Royal Exchange)
Comedy of Errors (Globe Touring)
Hamlet (National)
Hamlet (RSC Youth Ensemble)
Hamlet (Sheffield Crucible)
1 Henry IV (Globe)
2 Henry IV (Globe)
Henry VIII (Globe)
King John (Platform 4, tbc)
King Lear (RSC)
Macbeth (Globe)
Macbeth (Cheek by Jowl)
Measure for Measure (Almeida)
The Merchant of Venice (Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds)
The Merry Wives of Windsor (Globe)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Tobacco Factory)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Globe Touring)
Romeo and Juliet (Mercury Colchester)
Romeo and Juliet (RSC)
Juliet and Her Romeo (Bristol Old Vic)
Romeo and Juliet (Tiny Ninja)
The Tempest (Curve)
The Tempest (Tobacco Factory)
The Tempest (Bridge Project)
Twelfth Night (Filter)
Twelfth Night (National)
Women Beware Women (National)
A Yorkshire Tragedy (Tough Theatre)
John Simm is letting it be known online and at the stage door that he will be playing Hamlet next year. No details on timing or venue, but an announcement is expected this month. http://domeofstars.com/forum/index.php?topic=7594.0
Been busying thinking up parallels between Sam Tyler and Hamlet.
Platform 4 who are producing the stripped down Tempest at the Curve (and other venues see link) are also planning a similar treatment of King John http://www.platform4.org/current.htm
Filter’s Twelfth Night returns to the Tricycle in May:
http://bit.ly/8guXIp
John Simm Hamlet now confirmed for September at Sheffield Crucible:
http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831260527830/Another+Big+Hamlet%3A+John+Simm+Stars+in+Sheffield+.html
The Tara Arts 2010 season is now on sale. Mostly youth theatre and story-telling productions, but does include the Tiny Ninja production of R&J on a visit from the US:
http://www.tara-arts.com/studio/shows/tiny_ninja_theater_presents_romeo_and_juliet
With both Wallander and Lyn Gardner tipping this as one to see, perhaps the Mercury Colchester tango version of R&J might be worth a look?
http://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/shows.php?cat=1&id=636
Antony and Cleopatra will also be directed by Patrick Sandford at The Nuffield, Southampton. Platform 4’s theatre branch will rest for a while after these winter-spring tourdates with The Tempest. A new company featuring many of the same folk will be working on an adaptation of King John or Macbeth. This depends on funding and other matters.
Thanks for the tips Duncan and Simon, all added to the list!
The Globe has announced the list of cinemas and dates for the HD screenings of its 2009 season plays. But the list is a bit thin compared with NT Live!
http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/onfilm/
NT news: Hamlet set for September this year at Olivier then a UK/international tour. To mark his 80th birthday, Peter Hall will direct Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, with his daughter Rebecca Hall as Viola, in a production in the Cottesloe Theatre in early 2011.
http://bit.ly/6xUpdp
Meh. Have to say, not that excited by the prospect of another Twelfth Night, and what I’ve seen of the work of both Halls doesn’t hugely inspire me regarding this specific one.
Hamlet sounds promising, though I still think the real excitement is a major Women Beware Women, especially if the wonderful Harriet Walter’s playing Livia.
The cinema listings are pretty poor for the Globe, one almost wonders what the point is, especially when it doesn’t appear to be a live broadcast. I’ll be interested to see how they get on with viewing figures, but it’s not showing anywhere remotely near me!
By the time I’ve seen the RSC production in London I will probably be completely Twelfth Nighted-out too. I’m wondering if early 2011 might be far enough ahead to develop an appetite for more.
The Hamlet continues to sound good, and it will be interesting to see what kind of UK/world tour they manage to pull together.
As for the Globe screenings, my nearest cinema is 25 miles away. The screenings have not been picked up by Picturehouse cinemas, which has given them a very poor geographical spread. I shall be seeing the AYLI, as that was unalloyed brilliance, and their LLL simply to see Michelle Terry’s vibrant performance as the Princess of France.
I realise this is not strictly a 2010 event, but it’s definitely news worth mentioning: Propeller’s next tour will be in Spring 2011 and they will performing Richard III and The Comedy of Errors.
http://www.propeller.org.uk/default.aspx
Thanks Duncan. I did have those up originally, then took them down when I found they were being delayed until 2011. It’ll be interesting to see how/if Propeller’s patterns are affected by the news that Edward Hall is taking up the artistic directorship of Hampstead Theatre.
A Jacobi Lear is now scheduled for December this year at the Donmar:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118015444.html?categoryid=15&cs=1&nid=2562
Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist at the Rosemary Branch, 23 March – 11 April:
http://www.rosemarybranch.co.uk/the-alchemist/
Wicked, thanks Duncan! Never seen any Jonson, so will definitely try to catch this. Sigh, though, I’m starting to think it’d be cheaper to rent in London….
Oh well, in that case what about Volpone at the Greenwich Theatre, 18 March – 10 April?
http://www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=248:volpone&catid=7:playingnow&Itemid=1
Ahem! http://www.foxtons.co.uk
I’ve been strongly recommended against Foxtons by one of their former employees actually 🙂 . Think I’ll just have to stick to being selective…..
Volpone as well, brilliant! Will have to see if I can get down for that as well. A good year for Jonson, clearly!
Rose Kingston hosting performance of R&J in Korean with English surtitles 16-25 July:
http://www.rosetheatrekingston.org/whats-on/romeo-and-juliet
The Tragedy of Soliman and Perseda
(Accrediated to Thomas Kyd)
Monday 26th April to Friday 1st May
‘Wherein is laide open, Loves constancy, Fortunes inconstancy, and Deaths Triumphs.’
Trifle productions present the rich and rare Elizabethan classic The Tragedy of Soliman and Perseda in the authentic setting of the Rose Theatre, Bankside ‘400 years after it was first performed.’
‘Soliman ……an Othello of his time.’
Trifle a new and exciting company invite you to go on a journey that will entertain and enthrall you, with live music and post show discussion. It is a unique event not to be missed.
Bookings
Performances start at 7.30pm
Tickets £10.00 / £8.00 concessions
Box office: 020 7261 9565
Email: boxoffice@rosetheatre.org.uk
http://www.rosetheatre.org.uk/whatson/index.php