Many great comedies are reimagined and this re-adaptation of Moliére’s Tartuffe, originally commissioned and produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company made with The Rep, is very obliging to the audience. Highly enjoyable and offering a new radical take on the original book that was produced in 1664.
‘Adds little to our understanding of the play’: ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL – Stratford-upon-Avon
All’s Well is the definition of a tricky play, with its combination of the fantastical and the emotionally brutal, its historically specific yet confusingly vague setting and its hard-nosed, difficult to love characters. Embracing the oddness is probably the only way to make it work on stage but, despite some promising ideas and strong individual performances, Blanche McIntyre’s production does not feel coherent.
‘Gregory Doran doing what he does better than any of his generation’: RICHARD III – Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford upon Avon ★★★★★
Take this as purest Shakespearian tragedy: vigorous but classic, a magnificent magnification of the darkest human and political longing, of affection, terror, defensiveness, hubris and – in the women – a defiant courage that rings down the ages. Don’t miss Richard III at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford upon Avon.
‘This exhilarating production makes you wonder why the play is often so overlooked’: HENRY VI: REBELLION – Stratford-upon-Avon (RSC)
The story begins with Henry welcoming his new bride, Margaret of Anjou, with a boisterous feast that isn’t exactly suited to his calm and reserved temperament – though Margaret immediately feels at home.
‘The music provides a haunting, grounding overlay’: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS – Barbican Centre (RSC)
It might seem a bit odd to come out of a Shakespeare play raving about the singing and music. Yet these elements are part of what lifts Phillip Breen’s captivating new RSC production.
‘Leaves you with a fuzzy, festive feeling of joy’: THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT – Stratford-upon-Avon (RSC)
Everyone deserves a happy ending, and as we head towards the festive season, messages of hope and forgiveness start to provide us with a real sense of magic.
‘Hopeful & joyful without being sickly sweet’: THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT – Stratford-upon-Avon (RSC) ★★★★
My first time back in Stratford-upon-Avon since February 2019, and roughly three years since I’d last stepped foot in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre – and after seeing some rehearsal footage of this new show, I was excited to see what this had turned into.
‘The general tone is that of history lite’: THE MIRROR & THE LIGHT – West End
This is a labour of love. Hilary Mantel has adapted The Mirror and the Light, the third novel of her Tudor trilogy, in collaboration with actor Ben Miles.
NEWS: RSC cancels West End extension of The Mirror & the Light, now ends 28 Nov
The Royal Shakespeare Company has confirmed that The Mirror and the Light will end its run on the previously planned date of Sunday 28th November 2021 and not perform the planned extension to January 2022.
BY HILARY MANTEL AND BEN MILES
GIELGUD THEATRE
PRESS STATEMENT
Playful Productions and the Royal Shakespeare Company have confirmed today that The Mirror and the Light will end its run on the previously …
Puppetry, top casting & other reasons you should see The Magician’s Elephant
The RSC’s brand-new musical, an adaptation of The Magician’s Elephant, started performances this week at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Earlier this month, the company opened its rehearsal room doors for a sneak peek. Why should you add this show to your list of autumn treats?
‘An interesting character study of the King & his best man’: THE MIRROR & THE LIGHT – West End
Hilary Mantel and Ben Miles have combined a sizeable semi-fictional tome and the familiar historical story of Henry VIII, distilling them into a properly theatrical show with something new to say about this era and the humble man who, for 10 years, commanded a king.
NEWS: Further casting is announced for the RSC premiere of The Magician’s Elephant
The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced further casting for The Magician’s Elephant, a new musical by Nancy Harris (book/lyrics) and Marc Teitler (music/lyrics) based on the novel by prize-winning children’s author Kate DiCamillo.
‘Really very little to fault’: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS – Royal Shakespeare Company
The visual interpretation and slapstick style of the RSC’s The Comedy of Errors make it a joy to watch, with timing used creatively to garner the most laughs.
NEWS: Further casting for the West End production of The Mirror & the Light
Producers Playful Productions and the Royal Shakespeare Company have announced initial casting for The Mirror and the Light in the West End.
NEWS: The RSC’s production of The Comedy of Errors transfers to the Barbican in November 2021
The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced that The Comedy of Errors will transfer to the Barbican for a strictly limited London run following a season in Stratford-upon-Avon and a short national tour.
NEWS: Final part of the Wolf Hall trilogy The Mirror & the Light is set for the West End in September 2021
Producers Playful Productions and the Royal Shakespeare Company have announced that the third and final novel in the Wolf Hall trilogy, The Mirror and the Light has been adapted for the West End stage. The world premiere will run at London’s Gielgud Theatre from 23 September for a strictly limited season until 28 November, with an opening night on 6 October.
‘Offers a faithful reading with some contemporary resonance’: THE WINTER’S TALE – RSC / BBC Lights Up Festival (Online review)
The Royal Shakespeare Company joins forces with BBC4 for the world premiere of A Winter’s Tale, a production intended for the 2020 stage and all but lost to theatre history.
NEWS: Royal Shakespeare Company’s summer programme features new outdoor theatre
The Royal Shakespeare Company has released full details of its summer 2021 programme which includes an artists’ impression of the newly conceived Lydia & Manfred Gorvy Garden Theatre.
‘The music is magical & the visuals impressive’: DREAM – Royal Shakespeare Company (Online review)
Dream, using motion capture of actors, animation, music and some audience interaction, is not an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but is inspired by the forest presented within it. It was originally planned as live experience by the Royal Shakespeare Company, but has now moved to online.
NEWS: RSC announces BBC broadcast of The Winter’s Tale & live theatre returns with The Comedy of Errors
With the one-year anniversary of theatres being forced to close in sight, the Royal Shakespeare Company has announced that audiences will now get the chance to see The Winter’s Tale and The Comedy of Errors, two of its postponed 2020 major Shakespeare productions.