Shakespeare’s great drama of mercy and manipulation, The Merchant of Venice, is to receive a striking new revival by theatre companies Poetic Justice Productions and Wolf Sister Productions when it is staged at the Drayton Arms Theatre this autumn.
‘It’s very easy to see all sorts of contemporary parallels’: Director Paul Miller on Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Macbeth, led by John Simm and Dervla Kirwan as the corrupted couple, marks a homecoming for director Paul Miller.
Text of the Day: Sam Wanamaker arrives on site
One from the archives: In 1988, excavations began on the site of Shakespeare’s Globe and the occasion called for a symbolic moment.
‘Delightfully dark & inspired’: MACBETH – Temple Church ★★★★
There have been numerous performances of Macbeth over the years, but what sets this production apart from more recent plays, as well as the beautiful venue, is the innovative ideas from the directors.
It’s been a summer of Shakespeare Dreams
“What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?” A plethora of productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, that’s what.
‘Carnival reaches Southwark’: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★
Carnival reaches Southwark in this vibrant new A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with a lively cast &and colourful designs – and don’t get comfortable if you’re a groundling.
‘A fresh perspective’: HENRY V – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★★
A fresh perspective on the classic Henry V, concluding Hal’s journey from errant prince to conquering king – an action-packed end to the trilogy.
‘Echoes through to modern-day instabilities’: HENRY IV PART 1 – Shakespeare’s Globe ★★★★★
Henry IV Part 1 is a fast-paced, fun production that speaks to our politically unstable times – a great way to start the new season.
‘Doesn’t quite live up to its promise’: OTHELLO – Union Theatre ★★★
Closing Phil Willmott’s ‘Enemies of the People’ 2019 Essential Classics season is Shakespeare’s classic Othello, marking the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, with events set in the British Raj.
‘Shamelessly rousing & disappointingly crude’: EMILIA – West End
Triumphant, if crude, the West End transfer of Emilia is a heartfelt account of a Renaissance woman who has been hidden from history.
‘A dynamic production’: THE TEMPEST – Greenwich Theatre
Lazarus Theatre’s The Tempest is a dynamic production of a potentially tedious play, bound together in a stark & bold design – Alexander da Fonseca gives a standout performance.
FEATURED SHOW: Discover the fantastic ★★★★★ reviews for hit shows The Unknown Soldier & Gratiano
“Magnificent”, “Unmissable” and “Masterful” – since their premiere’s Ross Ericson’s one-man shows The Unknown Soldier and Gratiano have been showered with praise and stars. Take a look at these reviews from performances at the Edinburgh, Brighton and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, then book your tickets .
‘Ninety minutes of pure joy’: TWELFTH NIGHT – Southwark Playhouse ★★★★
Anna Girvan’s music festival themed production of Twelfth Night has plenty of nice elements to it – but can get carried away with itself at times.
‘I cried when I first read The Unknown Soldier’: Michelle Yim tells us about directing the acclaimed First World War drama.
‘I was quite ignorant about WW1’s history.’ It’s a big admission to make from Michelle Yim, who directs Ross Ericson’s hit one-man drama The Unknown Soldier, which is set in the aftermath of the First World War. Find out what Yim learned, and what it’s like to direct the show’s playwright, in our interview.
INTERVIEW: How did Michael Gove inspire acclaimed WWI drama The Unknown Soldier? Playwright Ross Ericson tells us.
Never underestimate the importance of coincidence in life. If Michael Gove hadn’t made a comment about the First World War, acclaimed drama The Unknown Soldier may never have been written.
‘Felt that I was trapped in a theatrical microwave oven’: THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND – Almeida Theatre
Borrowing a technique from American long-form TV drama, The Tragedy of King Richard The Second begins in medias res. The wonderful Simon Russell Beale steps forward, ashen-faced, to deliver the “I have been studying how I may compare/This prison where I live unto the world” speech from Act 5.
NEWS: Edinburgh hit The Unknown Soldier receives London premiere at the Playground Theatre
After selling out at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016 and touring the UK and to Australia, Ross Ericson’s First World War drama The Unknown Soldier will premiere in London in early 2019.
‘The play comes back, timeless and terrifying’: MACBETH – Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ★★★★
Here in Robert Hastie’s careful production of Macbeth is all the horror, psychological acuity and profound, terrified morality of Shakespeare’s darkest play.
Are we in the middle of a golden age of Shakespeare productions?
So what can be done to make Shakespeare less boring, or prove that Shakespeare isn’t boring (depending on how you look at it)? It does feel to me that we’re in the middle of a golden age of Shakespeare productions.
‘Full of purpose & great storytelling’: MACBETH – Touring ★★★★★
Something wicked this way comes…” It’s Merely Theatre, as the company tours its brand new production of the Scottish Play in rep with Much Ado About Nothing.