The Royal Shakespeare Company have announced plans to transfer six productions from its repertoire at Stratford-upon-Avon to London.
Its productions of Ben Johnson's The Alchemist and Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus will transfer from Stratford's Swan Theatre to the Barbican Theatre, performed in repertoire by the same company, with performances beginning September 2 prior to an official opening on September 13 (for Doctor Faustus) and September 14 (for The Alchemist) for a run through October 1.
Shakespeare's Cymbeline and will follow, transferring from Stratford's Royal Shakespeare Theatre, beginning performances October 31 prior to official openings on November 5 (for Cymbeline) and November 15 (for King Lear) for runs through December 23.
In addition, Love's Labour's Lost and Much Ado About Nothing (or Love's Labours Won) will transfer from Stratford to the Theatre Royal Haymarket, beginning performances December 9 prior to an official opening for both plays December 17, for a run through March 18. Prior to London, they will also play at Chichester Festival Theatre as part of the previously announced summer season there.
In a press statement, Catherine Mallyon, RSC Executive Director, commented, “I am thrilled that we are able to share so much of our work with audiences in London this year, with a total of 12 productions playing at the Barbican and the West End. Our work in the wonderful Swan Theatre has often missed out in transfers, so I am glad that Maria Aberg's Faustus and Polly Findlay's Alchemist will play at the Barbican, along with our two epic Shakespeare plays Cymbeline and King Lear. I am also delighted about our revival of Christopher Luscombe’s heart-warming Lost and Won double bill, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing, at the Haymarket—with Edward Bennett reprising his roles as Berowne and Benedick.”
Toni Racklin, the Barbican's Head of Theatre said added, “Continuing our ongoing collaboration with the RSC we are thrilled that Polly Findlay, Melly Still and Maria Aberg make their Barbican debuts and we look forward to welcoming back Gregory Doran and Antony Sher with their highly anticipated new production of King Lear. This bumper autumn season sees two clever pairings of work by Shakespeare and his contemporaries from two of the RSC's Stratford-Upon-Avon stages.”
To book tickets, for which public booking opens April 25, contact the RSC box office on 01789 403493, the Barbican Box Office or 020 7638 8891 or the Theatre Royal Haymarket Box Office on 020 7930 8800, or visit rsc.org.uk
