Rehearsals are now underway for our new productions of King John, Richard III and A Soldier in Every Son – The Rise of the Aztecs - three plays under the umbrella title Nations at War, exploring the struggle for absolute power and the right to lead a nation.
The season is led by RSC Associate Director Roxana Silbert, who is directing Richard III and A Soldier in Every Son – The Rise of the Aztecs.
She said: 'The season explores ambition, power, leadership and family loyalties and betrayals - themes which unite all three plays. They all have a dynamic political and personal landscape with a really strong emotional centre.'
Richard III (RSC)
Jonjo O'Neill takes the title role in Richard III. A member of the RSC's long ensemble from 2009-11, Jonjo played several roles, including Orlando in As You Like It, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, and Launcelot in Mike Poulton's adaption of Morte d'Arthur.
Pippa Nixon, who played Hippolyta and Titania in Nancy Meckler's recent A Midsummer Night's Dream, will play Lady Anne. Paola Dionisotti and Siobhan Redmond play Margaret and Elizabeth.
Completing the cast are: Brian Ferguson (Buckingham) Neil Barry (Murderer), Iain Batchelor (Richmond), Simon Coombs (Blount), Sandra Duncan (Duchess of York), David Fielder (Derby), Mark Holgate (Brackenbury), Mark Jax (Edward IV and Ely), Joshua Jenkins (Murderer), Edmund Kingsley (Clarence), Jim Kitson (Rivers, Citizen and Scrivenor), Natalie Klamar, Oscar Pearce (Tyrrel), John Stahl (Hastings) Susie Trayling and Alex Waldmann (Catesby)
King John (RSC)
Swedish born Maria Aberg directs her first Shakespeare play, a contemporary and edited version of King John. Maria's previous work for the RSC includes directing Roy Williams' The Days of Significance.
Making his RSC debut in the title role is Alex Waldmann.
Maria has changed the gender of two of the characters: the Bastard and Pandulph are played by women. Pippa Nixon plays The Bastard and Paola Dionisotti plays Pandulph.
The cast also includes: Neal Barry (Pembroke), Iain Batchelor (Robert Faulconbridge), Simon Coombs (Executioner), Sandra Duncan (Lady Faulconbridge), David Fielder (Salisbury), Mark Holgate (Melun), Mark Jax (Austria), Joshua Jenkins (Essex), Edmund Kingsley (Chatillon), Jim Kitson (Executioner), Natalie Klamar (Blanche), Oscar Pearce (Lewis), Siobhan Redmond (Elinor), John Stahl (Philip of France) and Susie Trayling (Constance).
A Soldier in Every Son –The Rise of the Aztecs (Compaňía Nacional de Teatro de México /RSC)
Underlining Shakespeare's ability to speak to the world at large, A Soldier in Every Son – The Rise of the Aztecs, by Mexican writer Luis Mario Moncada is inspired by Shakespeare's History plays and charts the story and foundation of the Aztec Nation.
Members of the Richard III and King John company will be joined by six actors from the Compaňía Nacional de Teatro de México (National Theatre of Mexico). They are: Diego Jauregui, Mariana Giménez, Hector Holten, Israel Islas, Marco Antonio Garcia and Andres Weiss.
The three plays will run in repertoire in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 22 March to 15 September 2012, as part of the World Shakespeare Festival. They then go into the National Theatre of Mexico repertory season.
Photo: Jonjo O'Neill