2007 Season

RSC

England

Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2007 Stratford-Upon-Avon Season

For more information on The Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2007 Season go to their website at:www.rsc.org.uk

Henry IV PART I:directed by Michael Boyd as part of the History Cycle. Henry Bolingbroke, now Henry IV sits on the throne. But the murder of Richard II and the guilt of his actions threaten to undermine his rule. While his father struggles to maintain his position, Prince Hal is immersed in a self indulgent life of drinking and revelry with the notorious Sir John Falstaff. Unwilling to accept his responsibility as heir to the throne, it is only when open conflict erupts that he finally abandons his dissolute lifestyle to fight at his father's side. RSC Honorary Associate Artist David Warner returns to Stratford for the first time in over 40 years to play the role of Sir John Falstaff. David first performed in the histories for the 1964 RSC ensemble when, under the direction of Sir Peter Hall and John Barton, he played the title roles in Richard II and Henry VI, and Mouldy in Henry IV Part II. His most recent stage appearance was as King Lear in Steven Pimlott's production for the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2005. He last performed in Stratford-upon-Avon as Hamlet in the 1965 season. He now rejoins the RSC ensemble. Henry IV Part I runs in repertoire in the Courtyard Theatre from the 17 July 2007 - 14 March 2008.

Henry IV PART II:directed by Michael Boyd as part of the History Cycle. After defeat at the Battle of Shrewsbury the rebels regroup and flock to the side of the popular religious leader, the Archbishop of York. With further conflict inevitable, Prince Hal and Falstaff must once more prepare to go to battle. But Hal's reluctance to inherit the crown threatens to destroy the ailing Henry IV's dream of a lasting dynasty. Meanwhile the industrious Falstaff turns the war to his advantage; avoiding his debts in Eastcheap, profiteering from the recruitment of unfit soldiers and enjoying the hospitality of old friends in Gloucestershire. When news of the King's death reaches Falstaff, he hurriedly returns to London convinced that with his protégé Hal to be crowned, he will assume his place at the new King's right hand. The anarchic presence of Falstaff pervades both parts of Henry IV, providing a comic and touching counterpoint to the civil violence that has engulfed England. Clive Wood takes the title role and also plays Richard Duke of York in Henry VI Parts I, II & III. Stratford-upon-Avon from 25 July 2007 - 14 March 2008.

Henry Vdirected by Michael Boyd as part of the History Cycle. Young, restless and ambitious, Henry V inherits a troubled crown. With his family’s claim uncertain, Henry seeks to secure his position at home by turning the country’s attention abroad. Resurrecting a contested claim to the French crown he launches a hasty invasion of France. Following a drawn out siege at Harfleur, Henry’s small army, ravaged by hunger and disease is forced to retreat. Trapped by a far larger French force at Agincourt, Henry’s gamble appears on the point of disaster as the demoralised English turn and prepare for battle. Shakespeare’s charismatic warrior King, Henry V’s aggressive pursuit of the French crown earns him iconic status, uniting England and France and briefly banishing the civil strife that will long outlive him. Geoffrey Streatfeild takes the role of Prince Hal in Henry IV Parts I & II and the title role in Henry V. He also plays Suffolk in Henry VI Parts I & II and Lord Rivers in Richard III. Henry V runs in repertoire the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 25 October 2007 - 14 March 2008.

Henry VI PART Idirected by Michael Boyd as part of the History Cycle. This revisited trilogy is the first salvo in an unprecedented two-year ensemble project to stage Shakespeare's complete history cycle using one company of actors. Civil strife, bloody battles and power struggles provide the backdrop for Shakespeare's compelling depiction of a divided nation and a king in turmoil. Henry VI Part I - The War Against France After the premature coronation of the infant Henry VI, France, led by Joan of Arc, exploits the fierce power squabbles in England and battle to reclaim the French lands lost to Henry V. Henry VI Parts I, II and III run in repertoire at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 6 February - 15 March 2008.

Henry VI PART IIdirected by Michael Boyd as part of the History Cycle. This revisited trilogy is the first salvo in an unprecedented two-year ensemble project to stage Shakespeare's complete history cycle using one company of actors. Civil strife, bloody battles and power struggles provide the backdrop for Shakespeare's compelling depiction of a divided nation and a king in turmoil. Henry VI Part II - England's Fall Jack Cade leads an anarchic uprising against Henry VI, made powerless by the warring factions of his new wife, Margaret of Anjou, and the House of York, as England descends deeper into bloody civil strife. Henry VI Parts I, II and III run in repertoire at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 6 February - 15 March 2008.

Henry VI PART III: directed by Michael Boyd as part of the History Cycle. This revisited trilogy is the first salvo in an unprecedented two-year ensemble project to stage Shakespeare's complete history cycle using one company of actors. Civil strife, bloody battles and power struggles provide the backdrop for Shakespeare's compelling depiction of a divided nation and a king in turmoil. Henry VI Part III - The Chaos Henry VI concedes the House of York shall inherit the crown after his death, angering his wife who fights for the House of Lancaster. Fathers kill sons, sons kill fathers. The House of York prevails and Edward IV is crowned, unaware that his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is plotting his downfall.
Henry VI Parts I, II and III run in repertoire at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 6 February - 15 March 2008.

Macbeth: directed by Conall Morrison. Having slaughtered the King's enemies in battle, Macbeth is lauded as a hero and bestowed with rank and power by a grateful monarch. But when this seemingly loyal and courageous man is tempted by the prospect of even greater power, he abandons himself to ambition, murdering the King and seizing the crown. Murder begets murder, and a crown gained through treachery starts to slip from his grasp. Magical prophecies come to fruition and Macbeth's reign is driven to an inexorable and bloody conclusion. Blending the theatrical and supernatural, Shakespeare explores the darkest side of human desire.Director Conall Morrison is an Associate Artist of the Abbey Theatre Dublin, and has worked at numerous other theatres including the Lyric Theatre Belfast and National Theatre. His directing credits include Ibsen's Ghosts, his own adaptation, The Bacchae of Baghdad and productions of The Tempest and Measure for Measure. Macbeth is his RSC debut. Macbeth plays in repertoire at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 11 April - 21 July 2007.

Richard II: directed by Michael Boyd as part of the History Cycle. Richard II presides over a divided court, his vanity and favouritism fuelling increasing tension amongst the nobility. Having ordered the murder of his own uncle, Richard is forced to cover his involvement in the crime, banishing two nobles, including his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. When Bolingbroke's father dies, Richard, desperate to strengthen his weakened position and fund a war overseas, seizes his land and wealth. Enraged, Bolingbroke returns from exile intent on deposing the King. Chronologically the first of the eight plays in the History Cycle, Richard II sees the beginning of a great schism between the powerful nobility of England that will leave the nation riven by bloody conflict for the next hundred years. Jonathan Slinger takes the title role following his acclaimed performance as Richard III. Richard II runs in the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 7 July 2007 - 13 March 2008.

Richard III: directed by Michael Boyd as part of the History Cycle. 'Conscience is but a word that cowards use, devised at first to keep the strong in awe'The Duke of Gloucester plots and butchers his way to the throne, murdering his own young nephews in the Tower. But his reign is cut short on Bosworth Field, marking the end of England's slide towards chaos which began in Henry VI Part I.The War of the Roses reaches its brutal climax with the advent of Shakespeare's most notorious monarch.Richard III runs in repertoire at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 16 February - 16 March 2008.

Twelfth Night: directed by Neil Bartlett. The handsome young Duke Orsino is madly in love with the Lady Olivia - but she, sadly, is too busy mourning her dead brother to even read his letters. Below stairs, her chief steward is nursing a bad case of sexual self-denial and the chambermaids are being pursued by a decidedly over-the-hill alcoholic uncle.Into this world of aristocratic confusion step a pair of teenage twins - one male, one female, but both equally capable of provoking infatuation wherever they appear. The trouble is, they seem alarmingly hard to tell apart. From its unforgettable opening line to its deliriously comic conclusion, Twelfth Night is a masterpiece of disguise, deception and desire.Neil Bartlett returns to the RSC to direct Twelfth Night, having previously directed The Dispute (TOP, 1999) and The Prince of Homburg (Swan Theatre, 2002). He has also directed at the National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre and was Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith from 1994-2004. Twelfth Night runs in repertoire the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 30 August - 6 October 2007.

The Penelopiad: Royal Shakespeare Company in association with Canada's National Arts Centre. As portrayed in Homer's Odyssey, Penelope - wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy - has become a symbol of wifely duty and devotion, enduring twenty years of waiting when her husband goes off to fight in the Trojan War. As she fends off the attentions of a hundred greedy suitors, travelling minstrels regale her with news of Odysseus' epic adventures around the Mediterranean - slaying monsters and grappling with amorous goddesses. When Odysseus finally comes home, he kills her suitors and then, in an act that served as little more than a footnote in Homer's original story, inexplicably hangs Penelope's twelve beloved maids.Now, Penelope and her chorus of wronged maids get the chance to tell their side of the story, through song, dance and storytelling in a new stage version by Margaret Atwood of her own wry, witty and wise novel.Margaret Atwood is an acclaimed novelist and poet whose many works include The Handmaid's Tale, Alias Grace, Oryx and Crake and The Blind Assassin for which she won the Man Booker Prize. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, she has been awarded the Norwegian Order of Literary Merit and French Chevalier dans I'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. She is a Foreign Honorary Member for Literature of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and lives in Toronto. The Penelopiad plays in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 27 July - 18 August 2007.

Macbett: directed by Silviu Purcarete. Two generals, Macbett and Banco, put down a rebellion. In payment for their heroic service, Archduke Duncan promises to bestow on them land, titles and cash, but he reneges on the deal. Encouraged by the seductive Lady Duncan, Macbett plots to assassinate the Archduke and crown himself King. Trying to maintain his tenuous grip on the throne through a vicious cycle of murder and bloodshed, Macbett is haunted by the ghosts of his victims and discovers that his new wife is not all that she seems.Written during the Cold War, Ionesco's Macbett remoulds Shakespeare's Macbeth into a furiously comic tale of ambition, corruption, cowardice and excess, creating a tragic farce which takes human folly to its wildest extremes.Romanian born Eugene Ionesco was a member Academie francaise and winner of the Prix Italia. One of the most innovative playwrights of the modern stage, he was a pioneer who revolutionised theatre away from naturalism and towards a heightened imaginative truth which became known as the Theatre of the Absurd.Silviu Purcarete has worked in European theatre for more than twenty years, most notably for the National Theatre of Craiova and Theatre Bulandra. His work seen in the UK includes The Dacemeron, Phaedra, Les Danaides (Glasgow), Oresteia (Lyric Hammersmith, Birmingham), The Tempest (Nottingham Playhouse) and Ubu Rex (Edinburgh International Festival). Silviu also makes his RSC debut. Tanya Ronder's adaptations include Romeo and Juliet (Vestuport Theatre, Young Vic and Playhouse), Blood Wedding (Almeida) and the forthcoming adaptation of DBC Pierre's Vernon God Little (Young Vic). Macbett plays in repertoire at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 25 May - 21 July 2007.

Noughts & Crosses: adapted and directed by Dominic Cooke. In a story inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Noughts & Crosses challenges our perceptions of race, power and truth as it dramatises the thrilling love story of Sephy and Callum, two young people kept apart by bigotry, terrorism and injustice. Sephy, a Prime Minister's daughter from the powerful Crosses, falls for rebel Callum, son of a dangerous Nought agitator. Their desire to be together threatens family loyalties and sparks a growing political crisis. Noughts & Crosses is adapted for the stage and directed by former RSC Associate Director Dominic Cooke. Now Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, Dominic's most recent RSC productions include Pericles and The Winter's Tale, part of the Complete Works Festival and The Crucible for which he won the 2007 Olivier Awards for Best Revival and Best Director. He has previously adapted and directed Arabian Nights for the Young Vic Theatre. Malorie Blackman is a best-selling author of books for children and young adults. As well as the hugely successful Noughts & Crosses trilogy, her many novels include Hacker, A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. and Thief!, which won the 1996 Young Telegraph/Fully Booked Award, as well as Pig-Heart Boy, shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and adapted for a Bafta award-winning TV serial. Noughts and Crosses runs in repertoire the Civic Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon from 29 November 2007 - 2 February 2008.

Fantastic Mr. Fox: Mr Fox has three very nasty enemies, Boggis, Bunce and Bean. These greedy farmers hate Mr Fox so much they will stop at nothing to get rid of him. They try to shoot, starve and dig him out of his hole, however Mr Fox is much cleverer than they are and has a cunning plan of his own. Discover the thrill of the chase and join Mr Fox and his family underground as they battle to save themselves and the rest of the countryside from disaster. Following their previous collaboration with the RSC on Venus and Adonis, The Little Angel Theatre present their acclaimed production of Fantastic Mr Fox. Roald Dahl’s classic tale of wit and determination is adapted by Sarah Woods and brought to life with ingenious puppets and enchanting music. Other recent Little Angel Theatre productions include the acclaimed The Snow Queen and The Mouse Queen (Pick of the Year 2004 – Time Out). Fantastic Mr Fox runs in repertoire from 19 December 2007 - 4 January 2008.

Graciously contributed by the RSC.