Date: 1st of April 2011
Where: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon
What : King Lear
I’ve seen this production before. Last year. But then Kathryn Hunter was the Fool. Now there was a story. Ms Hunter excellent as the Fool in King Lear, dire as Cleopatra in Anthony and Cleopatra. One reviewer called that production “gob-smackingly bad”. I was kinder.
Date: 31st March 2011
Where: The Swan Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon
What: The Rape of Lucrece
We packed up our tour bus and we toured the local schools. Having stolen the name “The Shakespearience” from a long-forgotten tourist project in Stratford-Upon-Avon, I produced a two-hour presentation of the highlights of “Romeo and Juliet”, “Merchant of Venice” and “Macbeth”, complete with narration to explain the full story. Largely directed by Richard Evans but with input from the whole acting company, we produced a truly collaborative venture which we performed to audiences aged from 9-15. Our largest round of applause (and standing ovation) came from a crowd of 220 fifteen year olds so we must have done something right.
It seems like only the other day that I was talking about the variety of roles that life throws up for me and here comes another unusual experience.
The RSC production of Romeo and Juliet which is currently playing in its Stratford-Upon-Avon base and which will transfer to the Roundhouse in Camden, London later in the year is a golden opportunity to see one of the finest productions of Shakespeare in many a year.
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Courtyard Theatre
27th May 2010
Antony and Cleopatra
Greg Hicks is at the heart and soul of the current RSC ensemble who are gathered to perform a number of Shakespeare’s classic works at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon. The ensemble began its work last year and will continue to work together until 2011 – although rumour has it that Hicks will leave early.
I normally get to see the RSC’s productions at the beginning of their run and I’m then able to prepare the review early. This one is unusual as, because of my personal workload, I didn’t get to see Twelfth Night until three nights before it finished. I decided to prepare a review anyway – even though it’s likely to influence exactly nothing.
Julius Caesar
The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford
3rd September 2009
Tonight, I watched David Troughton in a repeat of the BBC light drama, New Tricks. Troughton is an actor with a distinguished Shakespearean pedigree and he carried off the TV role with aplomb and class.
The Winters Tale
RSC at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon
23rd July 2009
The RSC have put together a new ensemble which will work on a number of productions between now and 2011. If these first fruits are anything to go by, it promises to be a very good run indeed.
twilightdawning 