Supporters News May 2016 by Royal Shakespeare Company

SUPPORTERS NEWS

Photo by Andrew Maguire

MAY 2016

ONLINE and PHONE booking opens 23 May 2016 ARTISTS CIRCLE ONLINE and PHONE booking opens 23 May 2016 GOLD PATRONS SILVER PATRONS ONLINE and PHONE booking opens 23 May 2016 PUBLIC BOOKING OPENSCIRCLE WEDNESDAY 18 ONLINE MARCH 2015and PHONE booking opens 23 May 2016 SHAKESPEARE

TELEPHONE 01789 272234

TELEPHONE 01789 272283

TELEPHONE 01789 272318

TELEPHONE 01789 403438

Lipwoman, Stedelijk Museum, John Herd/flikr

FALL OF THE KINGDOM, RISE OF THE FOOT SOLDIER

Image by RSC Visual Communications. Original Stock Photos: © scotclicks/Alamy & Shutterstock

MAKING MISCHIEF

JOANNE

Image by RSC Visual Communications. Original Stock Photos: © Mode Images/Alamy & Shutterstock

ALICE BIRCH

Photo by: Katherine Leedale

SOMALIA SEATON

REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN.

BY DEBORAH BRUCE, THERESA IKOKO, LAURA LOMAS, CHINO ODIMBA AND URSULA RANI SARMA The work of the RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST

ALWAYS ORANGE FRASER GRACE

27 JULY – 27 AUGUST

THE FIRST FESTIVAL OF DANGEROUS AND EXCITING NEW PLAYS AT THE NEW OTHER PLACE

THE STUDIO THEATRE AT THE OTHER PLACE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON 27 JULY – 27 AUGUST 2016

REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN

BY SOMALIA SEATON

BY ALICE BIRCH

In a country where protectionism masquerades as patriotism, a new national identity is being forged. Nostalgic notions of Englishness fracture as the rallying cries of a new generation are heard on the streets. In London, an attack on a student forces her teacher to confront the uncomfortable truth lurking beneath the veneer of community cohesion. In this provocative new play, Somalia Seaton peels away the privileged ignorance of middle-class tolerance to expose the deep wound of cultural tension cutting through modern England. CLEAN BREAK PRESENTS

JOANNE

BY DEBORAH BRUCE, THERESA IKOKO, LAURA LOMAS, CHINO ODIMBA AND URSULA RANI SARMA

Five of the most exciting voices in theatre explore the pressures on our public services as one woman buckles under pressures of her own. Commissioned and produced by Clean Break and directed by Róisín McBrinn, this one woman show is performed by Olivier Award-nominated Tanya Moodie, currently playing Gertrude in Hamlet in the RST.

HHHHH

‘Moodie’s extraordinary talent and assurance are evident from the opening lines.’ WHAT’S ON STAGE

You are expected to behave… Use the right words. Act appropriately. Don’t break the rules. Just behave. This play is not well behaved.

MON

Alice’s play examines the language, behaviour and forces that shape women in the 21st century and asks what’s stopping us from doing something truly radical to change them. Please note: this production contains strong language and scenes of a sexual nature.

TUE

7.45 ■ Revolt 9.15 ■ Kingdom

ALWAYS ORANGE

7.45 Kingdom 9.15 Orange

7.45 F Revolt 9.15 Orange

7.45 Kingdom 9.15 Revolt

7.45 Orange 9.15 Kingdom

BY FRASER GRACE 22

“Raise the Flag. Raze the city.” In the aftermath of terrorist attacks in central London, the population is on edge. Empathy and community have been blown away by the storm of terror and replaced by fear. A survivor of the first attack, Joe is convinced that he has found the key to turning the tide of destruction and restoring tolerance and understanding. But the city is in no mood to listen… Following the award-winning Breakfast with Mugabe and TMA-nominated The Lifesavers, writer Fraser Grace presents a tragicomic exploration of how to be human in a world always on edge.

WED

THU

FRI

7.45 F Kingdom 9.15 F Orange No Perf

A UG U ST

“This is our England.”

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

7.45 Kingdom 9.15 Revolt

7.45 ■ Revolt 9.15 ■ Orange

1.45 Kingdom 3.15 Orange 7.45 Orange 9.15 Kingdom

7.45 Kingdom 9.15 Orange

7.45 Revolt 9.15 Orange

1.45 F Joanne 3.15 Kingdom 7.45 Kingdom 9.15 Joanne

7.45 Kingdom 9.15 Orange

7.45 Orange 9.15 Kingdom

7.45 Orange 9.15 Revolt

7.45 L Joanne 9.15 Revolt

7.45 Orange 9.15 Kingdom

SAT

7.45 P Orange 9.15 P Kingdom

J ULY

FALL OF THE KINGDOM, RISE OF THE FOOT SOLDIER

1.45 ● Revolt 3.15 ● Orange 7.45 ● Kingdom 9.15 ● Revolt

1.45 Revolt 3.15 Orange 7.45 Orange 9.15 Kingdom

1.45 Kingdom 3.15 Orange 7.45 Orange 9.15 Kingdom

AUGUST

Our provocation to our writers this year was ‘What is unsayable in the 21st century?’ Somalia Seaton’s and Fraser Grace’s bold new stories address this uncomfortable question head on. Somalia is emerging as a major new talent, currently under commission to companies including Talawa, The Bush and Clean Break. Fraser’s last play for the RSC, Breakfast with Mugabe, won the John Whiting Best Play Award and transferred from Stratford to the West End. His 2009 play, The Lifesavers, was nominated for a TMA Award for Best New Play.

These daring new plays are joined by Clean Break’s Joanne featuring Tanya Moodie in a one woman tour de force and a revival of Alice Birch’s Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again directed by Erica Whyman. Alice’s play enjoyed huge critical acclaim both in Stratford in 2014’s festival and its subsequent transfer to the Royal Court and has also recently been produced in New York. Following its Stratford run it will transfer to Edinburgh (16 – 28 August) and to London at Shoreditch Town Hall (31 August – 17 September) see www.rsc.org.uk for more details.

J ULY

Welcome to our first new writing festival in our new theatre space.

7.45 Kingdom 9.15 Orange

7.45 Orange 9.15 Kingdom

1.45 Kingdom 3.15 Orange 7.45 Orange 9.15 Kingdom

7.45 Kingdom 9.15 Orange

7.45 Orange 9.15 Kingdom

1.45 Kingdom 3.15 Orange 7.45 L Orange 9.15 L Kingdom

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

TICKET PRICES AND DISCOUNTS* 1 PLAY ONLY = £15

2 PLAYS = £25 (SAVING OF £5)

3 PLAYS = £35 (SAVING OF £10)

4 PLAYS = £45 (SAVING OF £15)

Bookings must be made and paid for in the same transaction but you can mix and match your dates from any performance in the schedule. *Discounted tickets for 16-25 year olds and disabled people are available. Visit www.rsc.org.uk for details. KEY

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

ABBREVIATIONS

Kingdom = Fall of the Kingdom, Rise of the Foot Soldier Orange = Always Orange Revolt = Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again

C h eck w w w.rsc .or g.uk f o r d e t a i ls o f p r e a n d p o s t s h o w e v e n t s , t a l k s, p op -u p p er f or m a nc es a nd m or e.

SLUNG LOW – FAIRY PORTAL CAMP

AVON BANK GARDENS, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON SUNDAY 19 – SATURDAY 25 JUNE 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. Slung Low, Rash Dash, The School of Night and friends need your help to rediscover and create the magical ceremony that will reopen the fairy portal. They will spend a week at the site of the ancient fairy portal welcoming all comers at all times who wish to help to create the ceremony. Join us on Saturday night for the ceremony; it will begin with a feast and go on until the moment of Midsummer.

Central image detail by Theron LaBounty

This special collaboration with Slung Low, a company that make adventures for audiences outside of conventional spaces, 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. All events and meals are free. Tickets for the final ceremony on Saturday 25 June are bookable via the Ticket Hotline or online at www.rsc.org.uk/fairyportalcamp. For all other events, there is no need to book.

‘Now, until the break of day, Through this house each fairy stray.’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream V, i

Free tickets must be booked for Saturday night’s Ceremony by calling your Ticket Hotline or online at www.rsc.org.uk/fairyportalcamp

SUNDAY 19 – SATURDAY 25 JUNE

SUNDAY 19 JUNE FROM 7PM, help us welcome Slung Low, Rash Dash, The School of Night and friends to Stratford-upon-Avon and the site of the Fairy Portal. Drop in to the Avon Bank Gardens and say hello. Explore the site and find out more about what’s happening during the week.

Designs by David Farley

MONDAY 20 – FRIDAY 24 JUNE 10AM-5PM – THE CAMP Drop into the Camp at your leisure. Join activities including willow work, poetry classes, band jam, improvisation, cooking, costume making, singing, dance classes and writing workshops. 1PM – Lunch will be offered to everyone visiting the camp. 5.30PM-6.30PM – RASH DASH FAIRY RAVE Part dance class, part physical abandon. Come dance with Rash Dash around the bonfire. Dance hard and recover by staying for dinner with us. If dancing isn’t your thing, come and help us cook dinner. 7PM – CAMP DINNER Come dine with the company. Each night we'll serve a homemade dinner to all comers. Over dinner discuss your ideas for the ceremony at the end of the week, chat fairies with the gang or just enjoy the food. 8PM – EVENING PERFORMANCE Each night after dinner the company will perform under the trees. Part cabaret, part development for Saturday’s ceremony. Each evening will be different. Featuring song, dance, drama, poetry and a mechanical dolphin. No need to book. SATURDAY 25 JUNE 6.30PM – RASH DASH FAIRY RAVE 8PM – THE CEREMONY All week we will work together to create the ceremony to open the fairy portal. On Saturday night we perform it! 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, hopefully, you! Whoever you are, however you got here - you are welcome.

SLUNG LOW Slung Low is a company that makes unlikely, ambitious and original adventures for audiences outside of conventional theatre spaces. Shows that re-examine how audiences go and see a piece of theatre. Their ambition is to transport an audience to new places and to make them see familiar places from new perspectives. Slung Low’s home is the Holbeck Underground Ballroom (The HUB). Five railway arches in Holbeck South Leeds. RASH DASH Rash as in reckless. Dash as in fast. A company that blend music, dance and theatre to speak to an audience in the most rich, delicious, complex way. They were formed by Abbi Greenland and Helen Goalen at The University of Hull in 2009. THE SCHOOL OF NIGHT The School of Night is a collection of hard bardics extemporisers, originally convened by the late, great Ken Campbell. The company's theatrical shows are an eccentric night of literary and theatrical celebration.

Photos by Helen Maybanks and David Tett

SHAKESPEARE LIVE! FROM THE RS

SC – A WEEKEND OF CELEBRATION

SC will be available on DVD in late May

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST & MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING As announced in your last newsletter, the unique pairing of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much About Nothing (or Love’s Labour’s Won) will play in London’s West End from December 2016 to March 2017. Prior to London the shows will first be revived at Chichester Festival Theatre for a 5-week Season followed by a limited engagement in Manchester. For full performance schedules, ticket prices, discounts and to book tickets visit the individual venue websites below.

HHHHH Daily Telegraph | Times | Daily Mail

‘sparklingly funny and giddily blissful’ Times

william shakespeare

CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE Saturday 24 September – Saturday 29 October 2016 www.cft.org.uk MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE Wednesday 23 November – Saturday 3 December 2016 www.atgtickets.com/venues/ opera-house-manchester THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET, LONDON Friday 9 December 2016 – Saturday 18 March 2017 www.rschaymarket.com

For details of the RSC’s other work in London including the Autumn/Winter Season at the Barbican visit www.rsc.org.uk The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION

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

two comedies

PLAYMAKING

FESTIVAL 2 7 J U N E – 8 J U LY 2 016

THE

OTHER PLACE & THE DELL

This summer over 1,500 young people will be performing in Stratford-upon-Avon as part of the RSC Dream Team 2016 Playmaking Festival.

From wearing Bottom ears in class or creating an Athenian Wood in the playground to putting on a full production, any school can get involved.

Schools from Warwickshire and across the UK are bringing their versions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to The Other Place and The Dell open air theatre in the culmination of a year-long RSC Education project celebrating the nation’s best-loved play.

RSC Dream Team 2016 Schools were able to pitch for a slot in the Playmaking Festival and over 50 have been chosen to take part. With performances featuring gender swap Mechanicals, Titania and Oberon as full size puppets and Theseus re-imagined as a nightclub owner, not to mention 5 different languages, this is a fantastic opportunity to see how young people of all ages can create Shakespeare productions of their own.

Any school in the country can join RSC Dream Team 2016 and download a host of free resources on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including 30 minute and 60 minute edits of the play and guidance on staging.

Tickets for the Festival cost £2 per person per performance Visit www.rsc.org.uk/playmakingfestival for the full schedule and to book online, or call your Ticket Hotline

It’s not too late for schools to get involved with RSC Dream Team 2016 – sign up at www.rsc.org.uk/dreamteam and download the resources today

2016 - CELEBRATING SHAKESPEARE'S LEGACY

2016 IN STRATFORDUPON-AVON Join us in Stratford-upon-Avon to celebrate Shakespeare’s lasting legacy in the 400th anniversary of his death.

We have increased our range of cafe bars in which you can relax during the day, or visit pre-show and discuss what Shakespeare means to you. All have free Wi-Fi as well as Fairtrade tea and coffee and freshly baked cakes. THE OTHER PLACE – SUSIE’S CAFE BAR Open Monday to Saturday from 10am SWAN THEATRE CAFE BAR Open daily from 10am RIVERSIDE CAFE at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Open daily from 10am ROOFTOP RESTAURANT Serving brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and supper. Open daily from 10.30am www.rsc.org.uk/rooftop Hosting a party? Managing a meeting? Convening a conference? Let us help! We have a range of rooms to hire for all occasions. From 20 people in the Rooftop Restaurant Round Room for a celebration meal or a day-conference, right through to 200 people in The Other Place for a conference with catering and break out facilities we can help add theatrical glamour to your event.

The RSC Shop in the theatre foyer, or online at www.rsc.org.uk/shop has a range of gifts to help commemorate this celebratory year. Products include official UK £2 coins celebrating Shakespeare’s literary legacy, a new ½ pint Emma Bridgewater mug specially designed for this anniversary year, and a new RSC branded range incorporating Ben Jonson’s famous lines from his eulogy to Shakespeare.

Give us a call on 01789 272290 or email hires@rsc.org.uk

‘He was not of an age, But for all time! ’

www.rsc.org.uk/hires

For more details and to buy visit: www.rsc.org.uk/shop/2016

Photos by Andrew Maguire

SUPPORTER SCREENING SHAKESPEARE LIVE! WHAT A CELEBRATION WE HAD! A number of supporters won ballot tickets to see Shakespeare Live! From the RSC in the main RST Theatre and over 170 other supporters came together to see the show and to celebrate at a special screening in The Other Place. It was an evening to remember for all of us and to be in the 200 seat studio theatre in the recently reopened The Other Place felt very intimate. As we took to our seats there was a gentle buzz of anticipation of what was to come as Erica Whyman, Deputy Artistic Director, introduced the screening and talked about why this year has meant so much to her. The evening performance although on screen felt like we were part of the live event and we were treated to some great dramatic scenes, played by some of our greatest actors, as well as songs, comedy, dances and music celebrating Shakespeare's legacy. The evening finished with a spectacular firework display that lit up the skies of Stratford-upon-Avon. A good evening was had by all.

“The show itself was marvellous, of course, and Erica’s enthusiastic speech, and the experience at The Other Place was a treat in itself. The welcome, with drinks and delicious canapes – served with smiles: the goody bags and the birthday cake: the rosemary plants to take home. all so thoughtful. It was a night to remember ”

“The performance was amazing, but also the atmosphere that was created in and around the theatres was incredible”

YOUR EVENTS CALENDAR Saturday 4 June

10am – 4pm

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.

Showcase Day – The Other Place

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

Benefactors Brunch – Stratford-upon-Avon

Invitation only to Legators

Doctor Faustus – Pre show drinks

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

Supporters Evening – The Royal Shakespeare Theatre

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

Join us for our annual day of insight, engagement and a bit of fun along the way. The morning will be hosted by Catherine Mallyon and Erica Whyman who will share their thoughts on the current and future direction of the RSC. After lunch, we will be joined by members of the Hamlet Company including Paapa Essiedu and Clarence Smith alongside the musicians led by Composer Sola Akingbola. We will also hear from John Wyver who leads on our ‘Live From Stratford-uponAvon’ screenings and the recent Shakespeare Live! From the RSC broadcast. Weaved throughout the day will be one or two challenges with prizes to be won before we close the day at 4pm. Optional tours of TOP will then be available until 5pm.

Postponed until the Autumn

This is our annual opportunity to thank those of you who support us through legacy giving. Friday 23 September

6.30pm

Friday 28 October

6pm – 11.30pm

At the Barbican, London. Limited availability, first come, first served.

Supporters evening is now open for booking. Join us for dinner, the production of The Two Noble Kinsmen and a post performance Party . Tickets can be booked ONLINE via your Supporters Room. Log in to My RSC, Supporters Room and Supporters Events, and book online.

Friday 2 December

6.30pm

Friday 20 January

6.30pm

Cymbeline – Pre show drinks

At the Barbican, London. Limited availability, first come, first served.

Love's Labour's Lost – Pre show drinks

At the Haymarket, London. Limited availability, first come, first served.

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

10am – 4pm

Making a Scene - Shakespeare Structure

Public Event bookable through the RSC Box Office or online Tickets: £30

Making a Scene - Shakespeare and Playwrights Today

Public Event bookable through the RSC Box Office or online Tickets: £5

Creating The Tempest

Public Event bookable through the RSC Box Office or online Tickets: £8

Join David Edgar and guests for a day exploring Shakespeare’s structural genius, discovering some of his greatest scenes with actors and directors.

Sat 13 August Sat 17 September Sat 12 November 3, 10 & 17 December

11.30am – 12.30pm

David Edgar talks to RSC playwrights about their favourite scenes from Shakespeare and where they find inspiration in his work. Alice Birch (RSC: Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again) Tom Morton-Smith (RSC: Oppenheimer) Ella Hickson (RSC: Wendy & Peter Pan)

A series of panel disucssions exploring the inspiration behind our new production of The Tempest, the process of bringing it to the stage, and the future of innovation in the theatre.