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The RSC London Season comes to the Barbican
27 actors, 3 plays, 1 electrifying season.
The Royal Shakespeare Company returns to the Barbican with three new Shakespeare productions from Stratford-upon-Avon: As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, and Measure for Measure.
Featuring a company of 27 actors, this electrifying season explores the themes of morality, love, power and gender and sparks with striking resonance.
Running throughout the autumn and winter, audiences are spoilt for choice with three of Shakespeare’s plays that defy convention.
As You Like It
26 October – 18 January 2020
All the world really is a stage in Kimberley Sykes’ playful and imaginative take on Shakespeare’s romantic comedy.
Rosalind is banished, and with her best friend Celia by her side, she journeys to a world of exile in the Forest or Arden. But not before catching the eye of love-struck Orlando, who is also forced from the Court into the forest. Cross-dressing disguises and love triangles among the trees rival the drama at court, making our characters earn their happy endings.
Blending physical comedy, music and storytelling, As You Like It dares audiences to change their state of mind.
Find out more about The Taming Of The Shrew in our full feature
Director: Kimberley Sykes
Set Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Costume and Lighting Designer: Bretta Gerecke
Music: Tim Sutton
Sound: Jonathan Ruddick
Movement: Ayse Tashkiran
Fights: Rachel Bown-Williams, Ruth Cooper-Brown
Puppetry Director & Co-Designer: Mervyn Millar
The Taming of the Shrew
5 November 2019 – 18 January 2020
The ultimate battle of the sexes is turned on its head in Justin Audibert’s The Taming of the Shrew as the 1590s are reimagined – with women in charge.
In this radical take on Shakespeare’s fierce and energetic comedy of gender, Baptista Minola is seeking to marry off her two sons, the sweet-tempered Bianco and the rebellious Katherine. With Katherine ruining his brother’s marriage prospects, one of Bianco’s suitors plans to wed him to Petruchia to clear the path to her own love. Cue an explosive courtship and a keenly witty portrayal of hierarchy and power.
Director: Justin Audibert
Set Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Costume Designer: Hannah Clark
Lighting: Matt Peel
Music: Ruth Chan
Sound: Claire Windsor
Movement: Lucy Cullingford
Fights: Rachel Bown-Williams, Ruth Cooper-Brown
The RSC’s London production of The Taming of the Shrew is kindly supported by Cockayne – Grants for the Arts and the London Community Foundation.
Measure for Measure
12 November 2019 – 16 January 2020
When Isabella, a young novice nun, is compromised by the corrupt Angelo, who offers to save her brother from execution in return for sex, she has no idea where to turn for help. When she threatens to expose him, he tells her that no one would believe her. Thwarting Angelo will require friends in high places and some clever tricks to bring his true nature to light.
RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran directs this new production of Measure for Measure, which was written in the early 1600s but is just as relevant today.
Find out more about Measure for Measure in our full feature
Director: Gregory Doran
Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Lighting: Simon Spencer
Music: Paul Englishby
Sound : Steven Atkinson
Movement : Lucy Cullingford
Fights: Rachel Bown-Williams, Ruth Cooper-Brown
Tickets for As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, and Measure for Measure are available now through Ticketmaster.co.uk.
The Royal Shakespeare Company returns to the Barbican with three new Shakespeare productions from Stratford-upon-Avon: As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, and Measure for Measure.
Featuring a company of 27 actors, this electrifying season explores the themes of morality, love, power and gender and sparks with striking resonance.
Running throughout the autumn and winter, audiences are spoilt for choice with three of Shakespeare’s plays that defy convention.
As You Like It
26 October – 18 January 2020
All the world really is a stage in Kimberley Sykes’ playful and imaginative take on Shakespeare’s romantic comedy.
Rosalind is banished, and with her best friend Celia by her side, she journeys to a world of exile in the Forest or Arden. But not before catching the eye of love-struck Orlando, who is also forced from the Court into the forest. Cross-dressing disguises and love triangles among the trees rival the drama at court, making our characters earn their happy endings.
Blending physical comedy, music and storytelling, As You Like It dares audiences to change their state of mind.
Find out more about The Taming Of The Shrew in our full feature
Director: Kimberley Sykes
Set Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Costume and Lighting Designer: Bretta Gerecke
Music: Tim Sutton
Sound: Jonathan Ruddick
Movement: Ayse Tashkiran
Fights: Rachel Bown-Williams, Ruth Cooper-Brown
Puppetry Director & Co-Designer: Mervyn Millar
The Taming of the Shrew
5 November 2019 – 18 January 2020
The ultimate battle of the sexes is turned on its head in Justin Audibert’s The Taming of the Shrew as the 1590s are reimagined – with women in charge.
In this radical take on Shakespeare’s fierce and energetic comedy of gender, Baptista Minola is seeking to marry off her two sons, the sweet-tempered Bianco and the rebellious Katherine. With Katherine ruining his brother’s marriage prospects, one of Bianco’s suitors plans to wed him to Petruchia to clear the path to her own love. Cue an explosive courtship and a keenly witty portrayal of hierarchy and power.
Director: Justin Audibert
Set Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Costume Designer: Hannah Clark
Lighting: Matt Peel
Music: Ruth Chan
Sound: Claire Windsor
Movement: Lucy Cullingford
Fights: Rachel Bown-Williams, Ruth Cooper-Brown
The RSC’s London production of The Taming of the Shrew is kindly supported by Cockayne – Grants for the Arts and the London Community Foundation.
Measure for Measure
12 November 2019 – 16 January 2020
When Isabella, a young novice nun, is compromised by the corrupt Angelo, who offers to save her brother from execution in return for sex, she has no idea where to turn for help. When she threatens to expose him, he tells her that no one would believe her. Thwarting Angelo will require friends in high places and some clever tricks to bring his true nature to light.
RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran directs this new production of Measure for Measure, which was written in the early 1600s but is just as relevant today.
Find out more about Measure for Measure in our full feature
Director: Gregory Doran
Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Lighting: Simon Spencer
Music: Paul Englishby
Sound : Steven Atkinson
Movement : Lucy Cullingford
Fights: Rachel Bown-Williams, Ruth Cooper-Brown
Tickets for As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, and Measure for Measure are available now through Ticketmaster.co.uk.
