| Drama and plays in Birmingham | | |
| THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Royal Shakespeare Company) | | | Thursday 3rd April to Saturday 27th September 2008 | | When a bride is won with an enemy's money, the debt must be repaid. As bonds of friendship are put to the test, either love or hatred could triumph in Shakespeare’s unsettling comedy. Angus Wright returns to the RSC to play Shylock having last appeared with the Company in the 1999 production of Stephen Poliakoff's Talk of the City. He has since appeared extensively at the National Theatre, most recently in War Horse, Saint Joan and The Seagull, whilst his television work includes Waking the Dead, Hotel Babylon and Cambridge Spies. Georgina Rich, whose previous theatre credits include Much Ado About Nothing and Edward Bond's Lear for Sheffield Theatres, as well as the role of Baby in the stage version of Dirty Dancing, makes her RSC debut as Portia. Amara Karan, seen recently in the films St Trinian's and The Darjeeling Limited, also makes her first appearance with the Company to play Jessica. Tim Carroll directs his first production for the RSC having been an Associate Director of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, where he directed Richard II, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest and Twelfth Night, which won the Evening Standard, Olivier, Time Out and Critics’ Circle Awards. Matinees available. Assisted performances on 7 June, 18 June, 21 June. Times vary, check our calendar pages in April, May, June, July, August & September. (back to top) | | | to book by phone, call | | the courtyard theatre | | we also recommend... | 0844 847 2277 | | | |
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| THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (Royal Shakespeare Company) | | | Thursday 24th April to Thursday 25th September 2008 | | The flamboyant Petruchio wins the unruly Kate's hand in marriage. Will his unconventional methods succeed in curing her temper and scolding tongue? Shakespeare explores the sexual politics of marriage in one of his earliest and most controversial comedies. Michelle Gomez joins the RSC for the first time to play Kate. She is perhaps best known for her role in the Channel 4 comedy Green Wing, while her most recent stage appearance was in the acclaimed West End production of Boeing Boeing at The Comedy Theatre. Stephen Boxer returns to the company to play Petruchio, having last appeared with the RSC in the 1999 production of Bartholomew Fair. His other RSC credits include the role of Angelo in Michael Boyd's 1998 production of Measure for Measure, whilst his many television credits include his current role as Dr Joe Fenton in BBC1's Doctors. The Taming of the Shrew is directed by Conall Morrison, whose production of Macbeth played in the Swan Theatre in 2007. Conall is an Associate Artist of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin where his productions include The Bacchae of Baghdad, Hamlet and his own adaptation of Patrick Kavanagh's Tarry Flynn. He also recently directed La Traviata for the ENO at the Coliseum in London. Matinees available. Assisted performances on 11th June, 5th July, 7th August. Times vary, check our calendar pages in April, May, June, July, August & September. (back to top) | | | to book by phone, call | | the courtyard theatre | | we also recommend... | 0844 847 2277 | | | |
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| A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Royal Shakespeare Company) | | | Friday 9th May to Thursday 13th November 2008 |
| feast
of magic, music, humour and spectacle, A Midsummer
Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's best-loved
comedies. The boundaries between reality and
imagination merge as the characters find themselves
caught in a web of magic in the Athenian woods.
This production revives Gregory Doran's hugely
popular and critically acclaimed show from
the 2005 Comedies Season. Joe Dixon, who played
Oberon in the 2005 production, returns to
the Company to take the role of Bottom. His
other RSC credits include Antipholus of Syracuse
in The Comedy of Errors, also part of the
2005 Comedies Season, as well as Paris in
The Roman Actor (2003) and Mendoza in The
Malcontent (2002). The role of Oberon will
be played by Peter de Jersey, who last performed
with the Company as Antiochus in Believe What
You Will, Evander in A New Way To Please You
and Macro in Sejanus: His Fall, all as part
of the 2005 Gunpowder Season. Also returning
to the Company is Mark Hadfield, who takes
the role of Puck following his most recent
RSC performance as Chaucer in The Canterbury
Tales (2005). Mark's other theatre credits
include 39 Steps for Yorkshire Playhouse and
Don Juan for the Peter Hall Company, as well
as his recent performance as Grivet in the
National Theatre's production of Therese Raquin.
Making her RSC debut as Hermia is Kathryn
Drysdale. Perhaps best known for her role
as Louise in BBC 2's comedy Two Pints of Lager
and a Packet of Crisps, she has also recently
appeared in the film St Trinian's, as well
as performing in Catch at the Royal Court
Theatre.
Matinees available. Assisted performances
on 12th, 15th & 16th July. Times vary,
check our calendar pages in May,
June, July,
August, September,
October &
November.
(back
to top) |
| | to book by phone, call | | the courtyard theatre | | we also recommend... | 0844 847 2277 | | | |
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| LORD OF THE FLIES (Crescent Theatre) | | | Wednesday 23rd to Saturday 26th July 2008 - 7pm | At the Main House. Abandoned on an island, a group of children turn from civilized to barbaric. Knowledge, manners and culture are systematically peeled away. From the original story by William Golding and adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams. (back to top) | | | to book by phone, call | | crescent theatre | | we also recommend... | 0121 643 5858 | | | |
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| HAMLET (Royal Shakespeare Company) | | | Thursday 24th July to Saturday 15th November 2008 | | Shakespeare's great tragedy of a young man haunted by his father's ghost and driven to the edge of madness in his obsession to avenge his death. David Tennant returns to the RSC to play the title role, directed by RSC Chief Associate Director Gregory Doran. David last appeared with the RSC as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Antipholus of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors in 2000. As well as acting extensively on the stage, most recently in The Pillowman at the National Theatre, David has become a household name as the tenth actor to portray Dr Who. His other TV and film role include Casanova, Blackpool, Bright Young Things and Barty Crouch Jr in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This season he also appears as Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost. Patrick Stewart returns to the RSC to play Claudius. He last appeared with the Company to great acclaim during the Complete Works Festival as Antony in Antony and Cleopatra and Prospero in The Tempest. Assisted performances on 6 September, 20 September, 24 October. Matinees available. Assisted performances on 6th, 20th September & 24th October. Times vary, check our calendar pages in July, August, September, October & November. (back to top) | | | to book by phone, call | | the courtyard theatre | | we also recommend... | 0844 847 2277 | | | |
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| PORNOGRAPHY(at The Door at The Rep) | | | Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 20th September 2008 - 7.45pm | | Originally produced in Hanover, this is the English language premiere of Simon Stephens' stark and shattering new play that captures Britain as it craches from the euphoria and promise of 2012 into the chaos and reality of 7/7. Simon Stephens is one of Britain's most acclaimed playwrights whose debut play Sleep Of The Just was produced at the Traverse in 1994. His previous work includes One Minute (ATC), Motortown (Royal Court) and On The Shores Of The Wide World (Royal Exchange Manchester) which won an Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2005. Pornography is directed by Sean Holmes, whose recent work has included The Entertainer (Old Vic), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (National Theatre) and Sergeant Musgrave's Dance (Oxford Stage Company). This production opens at the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Festival before transferring to The REP. This play contains language and graphic descriptions which may cause offence. Matinee performances on Saturday 13th & Thursday 18th September at 2.45pm. No performances on Sunday 7th & 14th September. (back to top) | | | to book by phone, call | | the rep theatre | | we also recommend... | 0121 303 2323 | | | |
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| CHASING FATE (Birmingham Hippodrome) | | | Friday 17th & Saturday 18th October 2008 - 7.30pm | | Following the success of the Ballet Changed Our Lives: Ballet Hoo Project in September 2006 – televised by Channel 4, an new Company of 104 young people from four local authorities have worked with a professional team of artists, lifecoaches and pastoral care staff, to create a brand new piece of Musical Theatre in partnership with The Hippodrome Theatre. Chasing Fate is an exciting and contemporary New Musical that explores the relationships, trails and dreams of a group of teenagers caught up in ambiguities of inner city street life. Troubled Sam is Sixteen and will rather walk the streets than go home. One night, as the pressure of at home mounts to new heights, Sam’s search for meaning in his life brings him into contact with new friends. The attraction of his new-found family, is put to the test one fateful night when he makes a choice that will change the course of his life.forever … or will it? Who is the mysterious stranger who makes Sam an impressive offer? Is the cost worth the deal? Gangs, dares, deals and dreams…venture with Sam and his choices as he pursues the true path of his destiny. Building on the real life experiences of its young cast, Chasing Fate is gritty, funny, and fantastical. It tells the touching tale of one young man’s journey through the most formative time of his life. Devised by a team of new collaborators with extensive experience in both West End musicals (Avenue Q and Les Miserable), and popular TV drama (The Bill, EastEnders), Chasing Fate brings an entirely fresh piece of the street to a theatre near you. (back to top) | | | to book by phone, call | | birmingham hippodrome | | we also recommend... | 0844 847 2277 | | | |
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| LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST (Royal Shakespeare Company) | | | Thursday 2nd October to Saturday 15th November 2008 | | The King of Navarre and the nobles of his court vow to study, fast, sleep little and see no ladies for three years. However, when the Princess of France and her ladies arrive in the kingdom, the Lords discover their resolve is more difficult to keep than they first imagined. Shakespeare's rarely performed, exuberant comedy explores the power of love over reason. Love's Labour's Lost is directed by RSC Chief Associate Director Gregory Doran. His most recent productions for the RSC include Coriolanus, the final production in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre prior to transformation, Merry Wives The Musical, Venus and Adonis and Antony and Cleopatra, all part of the Complete Works Festival. This season he also directs Hamlet and a revival of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The ensemble includes David Tennant. Assisted performances on 31 October, 10 November, 15 November. Matinees available. Assisted performances on 6th October, 10th & 15th November. Times vary, check our calendar pages in October & November. (back to top) | | | to book by phone, call | | the courtyard theatre | | we also recommend... | 0844 847 2277 | | | |
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