Supporters News April 2016 by Royal Shakespeare Company

SUPPORTERS NEWS

APRIL 2016

2 SEPTEMBER 2016 - 18 MARCH 2017

D I R E C T F R O M S T R AT F O R D - U P O N - AV O N AT T H E B A R B I C A N

THE AL CHEMI ST

DOCT O R FAU S T U S

C YMB EL I NE

KI NG L EAR

BEN JONSON

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

AT T H E T H E AT R E R O YA L H AY M A R K E T

LOV E’S LABO UR’S L OST WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

MUCH ADO AB OUT NO T H ING

(OR LOVE’ S L A B OU R ’S W ON ) WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

ONLINE and PHONE booking opens 20 April 2016 ARTISTS CIRCLE ONLINE and PHONE booking opens 20 April 2016 GOLD PATRONS SILVER PATRONS ONLINE and PHONE booking opens 20 April 2016 PUBLIC BOOKING OPENSCIRCLE WEDNESDAY 18 ONLINE MARCH 2015and PHONE booking opens 20 April 2016 SHAKESPEARE

TELEPHONE 01789 272234

TELEPHONE 01789 272283

TELEPHONE 01789 272318

TELEPHONE 01789 403438

BARBICAN THEATRE, LONDON

LONDON S DIRECT FROM STRATFORD-UPON-AVON BARBICAN THEATRE, LONDON | 2 SEPTEMBER – 23 DECEMBER 2016 During the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and following the acclaimed King & Country: Shakespeare's Great Cycle of Kings season which ran in London in January, we will transfer two plays from the Swan Theatre and two from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre summer season to the Barbican in London. ALSO PLAYING

2 SEPTEMBER - 1 OCTOBER

7 SEPTEMBER - 1 OCTOBER

17 – 21 MAY

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM:

DAILY TELEGRAPH TIMES WHATSONSTAGE STAGE

A PLAY FOR THE NATION WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

‘JOYOUS ’

With amateurs from Tower Theatre joining the professional cast as the Rude Mechanicals, and pupils from Eastbury Community School and Bean County Primary School in Barking and Dagenham playing Titania’s fairy train. www.rsc.org.uk/dream

Photo by Topher McGrillis

GUARDIAN

TH E A LCH E MIS T BEN JONSON

An opportunity to see the work of one of Shakespeare’s finest contemporaries. Ben Jonson’s hilarious satire, revels in just how vain we humans can be, and still resonates gloriously today. Directed by Polly Findlay (The Merchant of Venice 2015, Arden of Faversham 2014), the greedy trio of con-artists, Face, Subtle and Doll Common, are played by Ken Nwosu, Mark Lockyer and Siobhán McSweeney.

D OCTOR FA USTUS CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE

Maria Aberg (The White Devil 2014, As You Like It 2013) returns to the RSC to direct Christopher Marlowe’s notorious tale of vanity, greed and damnation. The roles of the embittered academic Faustus and the demon Mephistophilis are shared by Sandy Grierson (The Tempest, Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors 2012) and Oliver Ryan (As You Like It, Hamlet 2013) with the decision as to who plays which role, made live on stage each night.

Photo by Helen Maybanks

‘BLISSFULLY FUNNY ’

Miguel Angel Munoz/Arcangel

TIMES

www.rsc.org.uk/barbican

EASON

AUTUMN/WINTER PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE WED

THU

FRI

No Perf

S EPT EMB ER

No Perf

SUPPORTER EVENTS AT THE BARBICAN

7.15 Doctor Faustus

DOCTOR FAUSTUS 23 SEPTEMBER

No Perf

7.15 F Doctor Faustus

7.00 P Doctor Faustus

7.00 P The Alchemist

7.15 The Alchemist

7.15 ● The Alchemist

SAT

7.15 F The Alchemist

7.15 Doctor Faustus

1.30 Doctor Faustus 7.15 Doctor Faustus

1.30 The Alchemist 7.15 Doctor Faustus

7.15 The Alchemist

7.15 Doctor Faustus

7.15 The Alchemist

1.30 The Alchemist 7.15 The Alchemist

1.30 The Alchemist 7.15 Doctor Faustus

1.30 ■ Doctor Faustus 7.15 The Alchemist

26 NOVEMBER 27 28 29 30 01 10 - 1.30 23 DECEMBER 7.15 7.15 ● 1.30 7.15 ■ 7.15

BARBICAN SUNKEN BAR 6.30PM Join us for pre-show drinks. Tickets are on a first come first served basis and booked through Kate Perry at invitation@rsc.org.uk Tel 01789 403467

The Alchemist

Doctor Faustus

Doctor Faustus 7.15 The Alchemist

The Alchemist

The Alchemist 7.15 L Doctor Faustus

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

TICKET PRICES

THE ALCHEMIST/DOCTOR FAUSTUS

ALL PERFORMANCES

£49.50

£39.50

£29.50

S EPT EMB ER

TUE

£15

OCTOBER

MON

£10

A LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATS ARE AVAILABLE AT £55

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

NO V EM BE R

No Perf

7.15 King Lear

7.15 Cymbeline

Cymbeline is Shakespeare’s coming of age romance. A story of power, sexuality and identity - stunningly retold for the 21st century. Directed by Melly Still (The Cunning Little Vixen, Glyndebourne Opera, Coram Boy, National Theatre), Shakespeare’s rarely performed tragicomedy casts Gillian Bevan in the role of Cymbeline, the first woman to take on the role for the RSC and Bethan Cullinane, as Innogen.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

This new production of the seminal play about the proud and ageing king is directed by Artistic Director Gregory Doran. Following his performance as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s great 20th century tragedy Death of a Salesman (2015), Antony Sher returns to the RSC to play King Lear, one of the greatest parts written by Shakespeare. This promises to be unmissable theatre. 2016 Media Partner

DE C E M BE R

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

K I NG LEAR

Photo by Paul Stuart

CY M B E L IN E

Peter Johnston/Arcangel

7.15 King Lear

7.15 Cymbeline

No Perf

7.00 P King Lear

7.15 King Lear

7.15 Cymbeline

No Perf

7.15 King Lear

7.15 Cymbeline

7.15 King Lear

7.15 Cymbeline

7.00 P Cymbeline

7.15 Cymbeline

7.15 King Lear

7.15 F King Lear

7.15 King Lear

7.15 ■ Cymbeline

1.30 Cymbeline 7.15 King Lear

7.15 ● Cymbeline

1.30 L Cymbeline 7.15 King Lear

CYMBELINE/KING LEAR

ALL PERFORMANCES

£55

£35

1.30 Cymbeline 7.15 King Lear No Perf

7.15 L King Lear

TICKET PRICES

1.30 Cymbeline 7.15 King Lear 1.30 King Lear 7.15 Cymbeline

7.15 ● King Lear

1.30 King Lear 7.15 Cymbeline

1.30 Cymbeline 7.15 Cymbeline 1.30 ■ King Lear 7.15 Cymbeline

7.15 King Lear

1.30 King Lear 7.15 Cymbeline

£45

7.15 King Lear

7.15 Cymbeline

1.30 Cymbeline 7.15 Cymbeline

NO V E M B ER

7.15 F Cymbeline

D EC EM B ER

10 NOVEMBER - 23 DECEMBER

O C T O B ER

31 OCTOBER - 22 DECEMBER

£25

£10

A LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATS ARE AVAILABLE AT £75 KEY

F = First Performance P = Press Night L = Last Performance ■ = Audio Described Performance ● = Captioned Performance = Pre-or Post-Show on stage event

BOOK FOR 2 OR MORE PRODUCTIONS FOR THE BARBICAN THEATRE AND SAVE UP TO 20%* Book 2 shows from The Alchemist, Doctor Faustus, Cymbeline and King Lear and save 10%. Book 3 or more shows and save 20% To book please call your Ticket Hotline. For more information visit www.rsc.org.uk/barbican *Terms and conditions apply. Tickets must be purchased in a single transaction. Offer does not include A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Not available online.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET, LONDON

Following their original staging last Winter in Stratford-upon-Avon and their revival this Autumn at Chichester Festival Theatre, these glorious productions of Christopher Luscombe’s heart-warming double bill Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing (Love's Labour's Won) will transfer to the Theatre Royal, Haymarket for a limited West End season. Summer 1914. In order to dedicate themselves to a life of study, the King and his friends take an oath to avoid the company of women for three years. No sooner have they made their idealistic pledge than the Princess of France and her ladies-in-waiting arrive, presenting the men with a severe test of their high-minded resolve. Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy delights in championing and then unravelling an unrealistic vow, and mischievously suggesting that the study of the opposite sex is in fact the highest of all academic endeavours. Only at the end of the play is the merriment curtailed as the lovers agree to submit to a period apart, unaware that the world around them is about to be utterly transformed by the war to end all wars.

Winter 1918. A group of soldiers return from the trenches. The world-weary Benedick and his friend Claudio find themselves reacquainted with Beatrice and Hero. As memories of conflict give way to a life of parties and masked balls, Claudio and Hero fall madly, deeply in love, while Benedick and Beatrice reignite their own altogether more combative courtship. Shakespeare’s comic romance plays out amidst the brittle high spirits of a post-war house party, as youthful passions run riot, lovers are deceived and happiness is threatened – before peace ultimately wins out. Christopher Luscombe directs Shakespeare’s matching pair of comedies that rejoice in our capacity to find love in the most unlikely places. Edward Bennett reprises his critically acclaimed performances as Berowne and Benedick.

For details of Chichester Festival Theatre performances please visit www.cft.org.uk

9 DECEMBER 2016 – 11 MARCH 2017

THU 08 No Perf

FRI 09 7.30 F Much Ado

SAT 10 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

12 7.30 F Love's

13 7.30 Love's

14 7.30 Much Ado

15 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

16 7.30 Love's

17 2.00 P Love's 7.00 P Much Ado

19 7.30 Much Ado

20 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

21 7.30 Love's

22 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

23 7.30 Love's

24 2.30 Much Ado

26 No Perf

27 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

28 7.30 Much Ado

29 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

30 7.30 Love's

31 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

02 7.30 Much Ado

03 7.30 Love's

04 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

05 7.30 Much Ado

06 7.30 Love's

07 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

09 7.30 Love's

10 7.30 Much Ado

11 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

12 7.30 Love's

13 7.30 Much Ado

14 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

16 7.30 Much Ado

17 7.30 Love's

18 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

19 7.30 Much Ado

20 7.30 Love's

21 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

23 7.30 Love's

24 7.30 Much Ado

25 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

26 7.30 Love's

27 7.30 Much Ado

28 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

20 JANUARY 2017

30 7.30 Much Ado

31 7.30 Love's

02 7.30 Much Ado

03 7.30 Love's

Join us for pre-show drinks. Tickets are on a first come first served basis and booked through Kate Perry at invitation@rsc.org.uk Tel 01789 403467

01 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

04 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

06 7.30 Love's

07 7.30 Much Ado

08 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

09 7.30 Love's

10 7.30 Much Ado

11 2.30 Love's 7.30 Love's

13 7.30 Much Ado

14 7.30 Love's

15 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

16 7.30 Love's

17 7.30 Love's

18 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

20 7.30 Love's

21 7.30 Much Ado

22 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

23 7.30 Love's

24 7.30 Much Ado

25 2.30 Love's 7.30 Love's

27 7.30 Much Ado

28 7.30 Love's

01 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

02 7.30 Much Ado

03 7.30 Love's

04 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

06 7.30 Love's

07 7.30 Love's

08 2.30 Much Ado 7.30 Much Ado

09 7.30 Love's

10 7.30 Much Ado

11 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

13 7.30 Much Ado

14 7.30 Love's

15 2.30 Love's 7.30 Much Ado

16 7.30 Much Ado

17 7.30 Love's

18 2.30 L Love's 7.30 L Much Ado

MON

TUE

FRI

‘BLISSFULLY ENTERTAINING... MAGNIFICENT’

‘A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN’ DAILY MAIL

D E CE MB E R 2 0 1 6

DAILY TELEGRAPH

J ANU ARY 2 0 1 7

‘THESE PRODUCTIONS ARE A JOY’ SUNDAY TIMES

SUPPORTER EVENT

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST

‘CHRISTOPHER LUSCOMBE’S PRODUCTIONS ARE SPARKLINGLY FUNNY’

‘SIMON HIGLETT’S DAZZLING SET... A GLORIOUS SCORE BY NIGEL HESS’ TIMES

M AR C H 2 0 17

Photos of original Stratford-upon-Avon cast by Manuel Harlan

TIMES

F EB R U A RY 201 7

RECEPTION AREA 6.30PM

J ANU ARY 2 0 1 7

WED 07 No Perf

FE B RU ARY 2 0 17

TUE 06 No Perf

MAR C H 20 1 7

MON 05 No Perf

D E CE MB E R 2 0 1 6

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

WED

THU

TICKET PRICES

PREMIUM

MON TO SAT

£87.50

£67.50 £57.50 £45 £35 £25

£15

REDUCED PRICE PREVIEWS £77.50

£57.50 £47.50 £35 £25 £25

£15

SAT C

A limited number of discounts, including Over 60s and Family tickets, are available exclusively to Members and Supporters during the Priority Booking period.

‘QUITE SIMPLY THE BEST PLAYS YOU’LL SEE ANYWHERE’ SUNDAY MIRROR

KEY F

= First Performance

= Press Night

= Last Performance

= Reduced Price Preview

ABBREVIATIONS

Much Ado = Much Ado About Nothing (or Love's Labour's Won) Love's = Love's Labour's Lost

www.rsc.org.uk/haymarket

THE OTHER PLACE - ERICA WHYMAN

We are excited to welcome you all to our new building, The Other Place, which is now open for business.

When you enter the building you will see people using the public foyers who are busy creating theatre in our energetic, multi-purpose space. Primarily, The Other Place is a rehearsal and development space. We have three rehearsal rooms which we will use all year round, and a flexible studio theatre. We will rehearse all our Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre shows here. The actors will be geographically closer to the theatres, our creative teams and visiting artists. The Studio Theatre, for an audience of up to 200, is a simple design. A dark box, which equally will work well with scenery, installations and a range of seating layouts. It will be a very flexible space to make theatre.

2016’s festival will respond to the provocation “what is unsayable in the 21st century, and why?”. It will look at who controls the narrative in the media and on our stages. It will have a political and social conscience. It will mirror some of the emotional and political themes, the “difficult” territory, in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Cymbeline and King Lear.

Photos by Stuart Hemley

The Studio Theatre at The Other Place is a festival theatre for new voices, not a year-round performance space. We will announce our first festival in your next newsletter for performances in July and August. The festival will have an adventurous spirit. The spirit of Midsummer Mischief in 2014. A daring spirit. The spirit The Other Place has had in Stratford for the last 40 years.

SUSIE’S CAFE BAR

When you enter the foyer of The Other Place you will see our new cafe bar. Named for the Deputy Chairman of the RSC Board, and generous and dedicated supporter of The Other Place, Susie Sainsbury, it is an informal and relaxed cafe during the day and a vibrant bar in the evening. Open Monday to Saturday from 10am, there is comfortable furniture where you can relax with a fair trade beverage and a slice of freshly baked cake. Alternatively, the booths, with free wi-fi, will be the ideal space for lunch or for some creative thinking. In the foyer you can also learn the story of The Other Place: from Buzz Goodbody’s vision in 1974 through the revolutionary productions in the 1970s and 80s to the plans for 2016 and beyond.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Photo by Simon Harper

Each year the RSC works with around 60 theatre makers to develop new scripts or ideas or to experiment in design, lighting and other technical techniques. Previously this has mainly happened in London, but with the facilities in The Other Place we can welcome this work to our Stratford-upon-Avon home and the creative engine of the RSC.

COMMUNITY USE AND PUBLIC HIRE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

We have a five-year collaboration with the University of Birmingham, who are founding partners of The Other Place. We will work with undergraduates, graduates and senior academics by providing a creative space for research and contemporary thinking about theatre. They will spend time in our building, working closely with professional theatre-makers.

FROM PAGE TO STAGE AND COSTUME HIRE

If you have ever wondered what happens behind the closed doors of the rehearsal room, The Other Place will offer you an insight. A new guided theatre tour will lead you through the rehearsal process from first artistic conversations to opening night, and show you some of the spaces utilised. You will see the Studio Theatre, glimpse into the rehearsal spaces and learn the directors and actors’ processes to get the words off the page of the printed text and onto our stages for public performance. In rehearsals, costumes are used to help give actors a sense of their character and the tour ends in Costume Hire. Having outgrown the current storage at Timothy’s Bridge Road (an industrial estate in the north of Stratford-upon-Avon), 30,000 costumes are being moved to purpose-built storage at The Other Place. When a production ends, all appropriate costumes find their way to Costume Hire and as well as being used in RSC rehearsals and productions, we hire to Film and TV companies, other theatres, schools and the general public. This will be the first time the public has had the chance to see the costumes for themselves, and you never know, it might just give the perfect excuse to dress up!

A wide range of spaces around The Other Place are available to community use and public hire. King Edward VI School were our first guests, performing in the Studio Theatre in March, as part of our building testing process. We will host amateur theatre productions throughout the year and enhance our current family programme with activities not currently provided by our events team – for example, weekly Baby Ballet classes start in the spring.

PARTIES AND WEDDINGS

As well as hiring our spaces for theatrical productions, we would like to help add theatrical flair to your next party. Whether it is a birthday celebration, a wedding reception or a product launch we have technical staff on hand to ensure all goes smoothly and that your guests are fed and watered to our renowned high standards. The Other Place is a thrilling addition to our campus in Stratford, with many memories of the past and exciting opportunities for the future. We hope you will join us there soon. ERICA WHYMAN RSC DEPUTY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

SUPPORTER EVENT

TOP TOURS FOR SUPPORTERS Joins us for a Supporter Tour of TOP on Saturday 23 April at 11am or 4.15pm. Spaces are very limited and the cost is £8.50 please contact Rosie Kew at supporter@rsc.org.uk or Tel 01789 403470

The Other Place has been made possible thanks to the support of private and public funders, including very generous donations from ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND, THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, BACKSTAGE TRUST, J PAUL GETTY JR CHARITABLE TRUST and a new creative partnership with the UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, Founding Partner of The Other Place.

SUPPORTERS' SURVEY

THANK YOU Thank you so much to everyone who took part in our recent Supporters' Survey. We had a great response with over 600 supporters, more than 40% of our Shakespeare Circle and Patrons, completing the survey and sharing their thoughts. Having analysed the responses we have a much clearer picture of what you enjoy about supporting the RSC, what inspires you to support and what you would like to see and hear more of. A few highlights from the survey include:

SUPPORTING THE RSC

Almost 90% of you told us that supporting the RSC is the most important reason for joining or renewing your support. As a registered charity, this is wonderful to know and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very grateful for all you do to help us create the very best in live theatre and carry on doing our productions and producing new work and sharing it with as wide an audience as possible.

88% of you told us that you joined as a supporter, because you wanted to support the RSC

Photos by Lucy Barriball

Supporting the arts is important to you, and that means a lot, thank you.

“advance dates of supporter events perhaps in line with productions” “I would like supporter events in places easier to get to than Stratford” “Timings for events to fit in with people who work or live in the North“

One of the main ways we communicate is through Supporters' News and we were delighted that 99% of you read all or some of Supporters' News and that 89% rate it positively. You also shared some great ideas about how we could improve the content with more behind-the-scenes information about productions and cast, updates on how your support is helping the RSC and clear information about special events.

We have highlighted just a few interesting results from your survey and over the coming months we will be working to improve how we involve you, our most valued supporters, in the RSC family and recognising your support with benefits that you want and enjoy. Thank you again for telling us what you think. Your support and participation is very much appreciated and though the survey has now closed, should you have any questions or suggestions that you would like to share please do get in touch. We will continue to share our plans in the Supporters' News with more details in early Summer.

SUPP S ORTERS NEW RS NEW SUPP S ORTEA2016 SUPBESPORTERS NEWS A PROU D YEAR TO SUPPORTERS NEW SUPP ORTE R OF THE RSC NOVEMBER 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015

JANUARY 2016

JUNE 2015

RSC IN 2016 - STRATFORD, ACROSS

THE UK AND AROUND THE WORLD

B I R T H D AY

E V E N T I N F O R M AT I O “I think we are going to be very N proud of the reopening of The Other Place and the Swan Wing, when they open to the public next year”. I want to begin 2016 by thanking you, the RSC's On a recent visit to our two building closest friends, for your projects I was amazed by the progress being made and wanted to share with our Supporters continued support and the excitement of the work taking place. The two workplaces have completely involveme different energies, each one nt. It is going to appropriate to the project. The beehive at TOP hums with noise as be an extraordinary year dozens of workmen busy themselves, tearing holes for new windows in the outside walls, or punching holes for roof lights in celebrating Shakespea the ceiling. The innovative recycling re's efforts, and the industrious repurposing of the old rusty box legacy. that was the Courtyard Theatre, TO

is zooming towards its conclusion. Meanwhile the work process at the Swan Wing is altogether quieter, and more intensely detailed, focused as it is on the challenges of restoring the fabric of a building which has stood by the Avon for nearly 135 years.

With your contribution the RSC to thrive and between April 2014 and March 2015 you helped us to welcome 1.8 million people to 2,000

continues The Swan Theatre

The Swan Wing masonry has all been cleared in a careful performances of 28 productions, sequence, using differently torevealed techniques and has broadcast our work again the three terracotta plaques 17 countries thattograce the front of the Swan. inspire 530,000 The orieland bay to window which usuallyyoung people over looks Weston square, through international now reveals fairy our sculptures that peereducation beneath the window. which aims A perky work imp sheltering to aspark under life-longand a demonic large aanemone, lovesits ofcross little goblin Shakespeare. legged in a corner stretching his bat wings. All I hope you’ll be able to theaexterior Weover have of the building, piece in repairs, wonderful join us for artistic programme mortar repairs, productions and celebrations many of discreet pinning this year and lime consolidationthe and I am delighted have taking place to now all been share undertaken to restore throughout 2016 and to see the beautifully fragile carved and plain with you in thisthe newsletter stone surfaces. and

ry year the 400th anniversa our plans for 2016, programme of I am delighted to share We are celebrating with a wonderful World. of Shakespeare’s death. tions across the UK and around the Director Gregory Doran, Artistic productions and collabora Shakespeare’s will be celebrating I am excited that we live BBC2 23 April 2016 with a birthday on Saturday The Shakespeare Theatre. broadcast from the Royal and will hosted by David Tennant other arts. performance will be inspiration in all the celebrate Shakespeare’s Sher in the title King Lear with Antony and the My new production of Royal Shakespeare Theatre, role will open in the a new version of A Midsummer season will also include Director, Artistic by my Deputy partner Night’s Dream directed will collaborate with Erica Whyman. The production across every region of the UK, tour a in theatre companies to play Bottom joining the RSC cast with amateur companies children as alongside local school and the Mechanicals,

ARTISTS CIRCLE 01789

272234

PATRONS GOLD 01789

272283

will be joined York, these productions and Hong Kong. In New Shakespeare’s tour our King and Country: by Richard II as we Academy of Music the restored Swan Wing and enclosed guide full booking season at the Brooklyn much anticipated Great Cycle of Kings details for supported by our reopening of The Other This has the all been theatrical event, kindly made second halfpossible with Place. your support. I do hope of 2016. for an extraordinary Highlights TO when weinclude re-openKing bothLear Partner, J.P.Morgan. buildings Thank you again for helping you will be delighted with with Antony Global Tour Premier Sher us to create what weinhave forward to achieved. the all theatre at its best made Royal TOP studio theatre begins to take Avon we are looking Shakespeare Theatre. shape and in Stratford-upon-Avon Back in Stratford-uponIn the Gregory The Other Place, reimagined and shared around the Swan Theatre we look Doran forward world with the widest costume opening our studio theatre ArtistictoDirector The Two Noble Kinsmen, house our world-renowned possible audience. Your The Rover redeveloped, which will support is greatly by Aphra Behn and a -AVON AND LONDON BARBICAN appreciated by all at the new play by store for public tours. OPEN RSC. plans FOR STRATFORD-UPON BOOKING our of PRIORITY all Anders made has Lustgarten SUPPORTERS which 272234 The Seven Acts TELEPHONE 2016 JANUARY 2015 - 01789 Thank you for your support GREGORY DORAN 16 September of Mercy. SEPTEMBER -AVON2015 ONLINE and PHONE booking opens■ Shakespeare possible. for 2016 MEMBERS' 272283 Artistic Director on Screen –TELEPHONE PRIORITY BOOKING DATES FOR STRATFORD-UPON 01789 a film festival which 2015 uncovers highlights 16 September of Shakespeare performances reconceived ONLINE and PHONE booking opens■ Love for Love and Queen Anne in film or television by the RSC MEMBERS' PRIORITYfor rehearsal ONLINE and PHONE booking 01789 272318 TELEPHONE BOOKING DATES FOR STRATFORD 16 September 2015 opens 20 January 2016 ONLINE and PHONE booking opens■ Henry V opens to public and critical acclaim -UPON-AVON SEPTEMBER TELEPHONE 01789 272234 ONLINE and PHONE booking 2015 - JANUARY 2016 TELEPHONE 01789 403438 ■ RE:Shakespeare, 2015a ground-breaking opens 20 January 2016 free app from the RSC and Samsung PHONE booking opens 17 September collaboration is presented 2015andwith MARCH America 18inONLINE TELEPHONE WEDNESDAY Company inOPENS

ARTISTS CIRCLE PATRONS GOLD

Titania’s fairies. our major cultural exchange Internationally, I launch an historic tour of my productions with collaboration in China Beijing, Shanghai and II and Henry V to of Henry IV Parts I

O N I N S I D E B A C K PA GE

Photo by Ellie Kurttz

Ideas we’re exploring include looking at where and when we hold our events including events for our London supporters, more opportunities for you to get an insight into the creative process behind our productions, opening up our popular and sociable Supporters' Evening and Showcase Day to as many people as possible and giving you more notice about events so that you can plan your visits.

Keeping in touch with you is an important part of our role and we are keen to find ways to enhance, improve and share our news. The survey asked questions about whether you prefer to receive hard copy or digital information, and over 50% of you expressed a preference to having invitations to events and reminders about renewing your support by email, but when it came to priority booking and new season announcements most prefer to receive the information by post.

Photo by Stewart Hemley

When we asked you about your events programme, you had a lot to tell us. 40% of you have attended a special event and you had some great suggestions as to what we can do to improve our programme.

COMMUNICATIONS

Photo by Stewart Hemley

SPECIAL SUPPORTER EVENTS

“feeling part of the RSC”

Photo by Lucy Barriball

“knowing that in a small way I am contributing to sustaining an important part of our cultural legacy”

ME IN 2016 FOR A YEAR PLEASE JOIN PATRONS SILVER CIRCLE BOOKING PUBLIC SHAKESPEARE

The Royal Shakespeare The Ohio State University.

IN YOUR NEWSLETTER

TO REMEMBER.

C A L E N D A R S 403438 N T01789 N E W E V E CIRCLE PATRONS SILVER 01789 272318 SHAKESPEARE

E N C L O S E D

ARTISTS CIRCLE PATRONS GOLD PATRONS SILVER

ONLINE and PHONE booking

opens

20 January 2016 PUBLIC SHAKESPEAR BOOKING OPENS E CIRCLE WEDNESDAY 18 ONLINE MARCH 2015and PHONE booking opens 21 January 2016

01789 272283

TELEPHONE 01789 272318 TELEPHONE 01789 403438

DREAM 16 ON TOUR A CO-PRODUCTION BETWEEN THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AND AMATEUR THEATRE COMPANIES ACROSS THE UK

‘ THE

NATION IS IN FOR A TREAT’ EVENING STANDARD

‘ RSC’S

DELIGHTFUL PLAY FOR THE NATION ’ GUARDIAN

‘A ROARING SUCCESS ’ TIMES

‘THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE NEVER DID RUN SMOOTH’ On a Midsummer’s night, four young lovers find themselves wrapped in the mischievous arms of an enchanted forest where sprites lurk and fairies rule. With a feuding Fairy King and Queen, Bottom, Quince and their friends presenting their play within a play, and chief mischief-maker Puck on-hand, games of fantasy, love and dreams ensue in Shakespeare’s most fun and beguiling comedy.

The nation’s favourite Shakespeare play is performed as never before; Deputy Artistic Director Erica Whyman (The Christmas Truce 2014 and Hecuba 2015), directs 18 professional actors with local amateur groups as Shakespeare’s Mechanicals. Returning to the RSC is Ayesha Dharker (Othello 2015, Arabian Nights 2009) in the role of Fairy Queen Titania and Chu Omambala (Hecuba 2015) as Oberon, King of the Fairies.

Also joining the Company are Lucy Ellinson as Puck, Laura Riseborough as Helena, Mercy Ojelade as Hermia, Jack Holden as Lysander and Chris Nayak as Demetrius.

Join us for an unforgettable Midsummer adventure...

12 – 16 APRIL ALHAMBRA THEATRE

B RADF ORD b r a d fo r d - t h e a t r e s . c o . u k

19 – 23 APRIL THE MARLOWE THEATRE

CANTERB U RY marlowetheatre.com

26 – 30 APRIL THEATRE ROYAL

NORWICH theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

3 – 7 MAY THEATRE ROYAL

NOTTING HAM trch.co.uk

10 – 14 MAY HALL FOR CORNWALL

TRU RO h a l l fo r c o r n w a l l . c o . u k

17 – 21 MAY BARBICAN

L ONDON b a r b i c a n . o r g. u k

24 – 28 MAY NEW THEATRE

CARDIF F n e w t h e a t r e c a r d i ff. c o . u k

31 MAY – 4 JUNE GRAND OPERA HOUSE

B EL FAS T

Photos by Topher McGrillis

go h . c o . u k

15 JUNE – 16 JULY ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE

S TRATF ORD-U PON-AV ON rsc.org.uk This is an arrangement developed between the RSC and Equity A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation is supported by Arts Council England Cross-Border Touring Fund

SAVE THE DATE

MAGIC AT MIDSUMMER

REMAINING UK TOUR DATES

SLUNG LOW: FAIRY PORTAL CAMP SUNDAY 19 – SATURDAY 25 JUNE AVONBANK GARDENS (BETWEEN THE SWAN THEATRE AND HOLY TRINITY CHURCH) The world is in imbalance. We have seen the seasons altered and the seas are rising. A band of adventurers and poets believe they have the solution: unblock the fairy portal and restore the natural order of things. Join us during the week and help create the ceremony. Beginning with a feast and going on until the very pitch black moment of midsummer, the Ceremony will contain dancing and fire, singing and feasting, poetry and you. This special collaboration with Slung Low is inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the beliefs that were widely held in Shakespeare’s time about the magic of Midsummer’s night. More information will follow in your next newsletter.

POSTCARDS FROM...

2016 is a remarkable year, not only as we celebrate 400 years of our house playwright but we are embarking on our first major productions tour to China and onward conclusion of the King & Country: Shakespeare’s Great Cycle of Kings at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York.

Photo by Amy Belson

This collaboration in China marks the beginning of an precedented artistic exchange between the RSC and China. This partnership/project will include a decade long commitment to translating Shakespeare’s works into Mandarin, embedding translators in rehearsals to create texts made for performance, Chinese dramatic works translated into English and performed in the UK for the very first time, and a new education resource pack created with the British Council for schools worldwide translated into Chinese.

FIRST STOP – BEIJING The company (and the 51 tonnes of set) arrived safely in China for the beginning of the international King & Country Tour. They were formally met by President Chen Ping and his team for a welcome over green tea. The crew, working with translators installed the set at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing. The first performance on 18 February and subsequent performances were met with great enthusiasm. There was a moment during the technical rehearsal in Beijing, when Gregory Doran suddenly thought that perhaps, after all, we were crazy to be touring three plays that the Chinese had never seen before.

Gregory Doran and Sam Marks visiting The Great Wall of China.

We had heard troubling stories: about Chinese audiences, not reacting like audiences in Stratford-upon-Avon, that they spend their time chatting, get up and leave after forty minutes or so, or simply record the show on their mobile phones. Would they follow the story? Would the subtitles be precise enough? On the first night in Beijing the Company held their breath:

NEXT STOP SHANGHAI

Gregory Doran delivering the Shakespeare Folio Project Symposium.

“I think the RSC are doing a great job to build cross cultural bridges and I really appreciate all the effort your actors made to come here, perform and then take questions.” A quote from one of our Chinese audience members following a Q & A session in Shanghai.

The King & Country Exhibition, designed by our Events and Exhibitions team, looked brilliant in the foyers of the Shanghai Grand.

Photo by Jasper James

The entire Company was on fine form in Shanghai. The performances were excellent and the audiences really engaged and enthusiastic. Again the production team worked marvels to get everything ready including constructing a tent to protect some of our key electrical equipment from water pouring through in the wings. The response was exceptional for all three productions.

FINAL EASTERN STOP HONG KONG

As the King & Country tour bids farewell to China, to take a well earned break before heading on to New York, we reflect on what we have achieved. Gregory Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said: “I have been hugely excited by the ambitions of our Chinese cultural partners and their interest in working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. China's rich dramatic heritage mirrors the epic scale, complexity and universality of Shakespeare's work, and has a national curriculum which requires young people to study his plays.

Photo by Amy Belson

Two weeks in Hong Kong has meant the company can relax a little. Performances formed part of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, alongside music and dance performances. The Lyric Theatre is the only theatre in the city of 7 million people. A highlight for the company was performing to 800 very well behaved school children from local schools until “the kiss” Scene in Henry V and the children cheered in delight! Alex Hassell front of house at the Hong Kong Arts Festival.

I am delighted that we are able to bring our work to new audiences in China, with the support of the UK Government, the deep commitment and active engagement of the Chinese Cultural Embassy, and the generous support of J.P. Morgan.” NEXT STOP NEW YORK.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT Your love for Shakespeare can be shared around the world with the next generation.

Photo by Rob Freeman

A gift in your will is the start of a life-long love of Shakespeare and live theatre. In language and performance. As a guide to life. As a star to follow. As a vision of the tragedies, complexities, puzzles and delights of being alive.

On a crazy island swirling with sounds, exiled Duke Prospero uses magic to create a home within the wilderness. As his beloved daughter Miranda falls in love with a shipwrecked stranger from their homeland, she rebels against his power. Prospero must risk forgiving those who betrayed him, or lose her forever. Fun, fantasy and sorcery collide in this gripping story of how love and reconciliation can conquer fear and control. It is an ideal first experience of Shakespeare for anyone aged 8 and above. Using Shakespeare’s original language, this edited version lasts 90 minutes and includes a fully interactive introduction to the world and characters of the play.

www.rsc.org.uk/firstencounters

In this special year celebrating Shakespeare’s continuing legacy and impact around the world we hope you will consider leaving a gift to the RSC in your will to bring the thrills, joys and magic of live theatre to children and adults around world and spark a love of Shakespeare. Please let us know if you’re planning to leave a gift to the RSC in your will - we would like to thank you and welcome you to our group of supporters who have committed a legacy to the RSC - The Benefactors Circle. Please email michele.cottiss@rsc.org.uk or telephone 01789 272283.

WELCOME TO YOUR SUPPORTERS TEAM The Supporters' team are here to make your experience as a supporter as fulfilling as possible and to encourage others to get involved and join you in supporting the RSC.

Left to right: Pete Warman, Michele Cottiss and Rosie Kew.

The team are split between Stratford-upon-Avon and London, with Pete based in London and Michele and Rosie working mainly in Stratford. We work within the wider Development Department which raises around £4 million every year to help the RSC to create theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world with the widest possible audience. We want you to feel involved in the work we do on-stage and behind the scenes and give you an insight into the craftsmanship and creativity that goes into every production. Through Supporters' News, and the online Supporters' Room, we endeavour to make sure you have all the latest news including new season announcements and all the information necessary for your Priority Booking. As a team we are responsible for shaping your supporter events programme, and hope that you’ll be able to enjoy many of the special events we organise to bring you closer to the magic behind our productions.

We look forward to meeting you in the theatre, over coffee in the RST Café or at one of our Supporter events. It goes without saying, if you would like to talk about your support or if we can be of any assistance please get in touch

CONTACT DETAILS Michele Cottiss Tel: 01789 272283 Email: michele.cottiss@rsc.org.uk Rosie Kew Tel: 01789 403478 Email: rosie.kew@rsc.org.uk Pete Warman Tel: 01789 403476 Email: pete.warman@rsc.org.uk

YOUR EVENTS CALENDAR

Please note that as a registered charity some of these events are charged to cover costs. Full details of these events are available online. Please visit your Supporters room.

Saturday 23 April

7pm – 10.30pm

Shakespeare Live! From The RSC – Ballot and TOP Screening

Saturday 23 April

11am and 4.15pm

The Other Place Tours

Tickets: £8.50 pp. Contact Rosie Kew at Supporter@rsc.org.uk or 01789 403470

Saturday 4 June

10am – 4pm

Showcase Day – The Other Place

Tickets: £40 pp. Contact Kate Perry at Invitation@rsc.org.uk or 01789 403467

Wednesday 8 June

10am – 12.45pm

Benefactors Brunch – Stratford-upon-Avon

Invitation only to Legators

Friday 23 September

6.30pm

Doctor Faustus, pre show drinks at the Barbican, London. Limited availability, first come, first served.

Tickets: Kate Perry at Invitation@rsc.org.uk or 01789 403467

Friday 28 October

6pm – 11.30pm

Supporters Evening – The Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Tickets: £160 pp. Contact Kate Perry at Invitation@rsc.org.uk or 01789 403467

Friday 2 December

6.30pm

Cymbeline – Pre show drinks at the Barbican, London. Limited availability, first come, first served.

Friday 20 January

6.30pm

Love's Labour's Lost, pre show drinks at the Haymarket, London. Limited availability, first come, first served.

All tickets for both events have now been allocated, and joining instructions will be sent week commencing 11 April.

We have held a limited number of tickets off sale for Supporters' on the 11am and 4.15pm tours.

The day will include; a conversation with Hamlet himself, Paapa Essiedu, and Assistant Director Anna Girvan, the opportunity to hear from Catherine Mallyon and Erica Whyman on their shared vision for the Other Place, an insight into the ‘Live From Stratford’ screenings and a tour of TOP. Tickets to include lunch and refreshments. A limited number of tickets for the evening performance of Hamlet, are available. If you would like to stay for the show, please let us know. An annual event to thank those of you who support us through legacy giving. This year’s event will give you a behind the scenes look at our current production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Our grand celebration centres around a performance of The Two Noble Kinsmen. Join us for dinner, the production of The Two Noble Kinsmen and a post performance Party. Tickets can be booked from 20 April online via your Supporters room. Tickets are limited to 2 per person and allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Tickets: Kate Perry at Invitation@rsc.org.uk or 01789 403467

PRESS NIGHTS All Gold Patrons are invited to join us for the press nights in The Royal Shakespeare Theatre. All our Artist Circle Supporters are invited for press nights in The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Swan Theatre and London press nights. Full details and dates for these are available on the website in your Supporters room.

OTHER EVENTS Sunday 24 July

19 March – 19 June

10am – 4pm

Compton Verney, Warwickshire

Making a Scene- Shakespeare Structure

Public Event

Join David Edgar and guests for a day of talks examining Shakespeare’s structural skills in playwriting. Tickets: We have secured a small number of tickets for Supporters.

Tickets: Contact Rosie Kew at Supporter@rsc.org.uk or 01789 403470

Shakespeare in Art: Tempests, Tyrants and Tragedy

Tickets: Book directly with Compton Verney – Please quote RSC for a 25% discount.

A new exhibition which reimagines Shakespeare’s work through different media: painting, photography, film, sound and light. Includes speciallycommissioned audio excerpts by RSC actors.