The Royal Shakespeare Company casts its trilogy of plays – The Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night and The Tempest – as part of the World Shakespeare Festival.
The first RSC productions in the World Shakespeare Festival are three plays cast from one acting company, led by RSC Associate Director David Farr, and looking at migration, exile, and the discovery of brave new worlds.
He explains: 'In this shipwreck trilogy we are exploring the recurrent obsessions of Shakespeare with migration, exile and the discovery of yourself through others.'
Jonathan Slinger takes on three roles - Dr Pinch in The Comedy of Errors, Malvolio in Twelfth Night and Prospero in The Tempest. He was most recently seen at the RSC in the title role of Macbeth and as Lenny in The Homecoming.
Emily Taaffe makes her RSC debut as Viola in Twelfth Night and Miranda in The Tempest. Her recent theatre roles were The Veil, The Cherry Orchard and Nation (National Theatre). She has also appeared in The Borgias and Doctors on television.
Palestinian actor Amer Hlehel makes his RSC debut. He has appeared in recent productions at the Young Vic and in Palestinian films, including the Golden Globe award winning Paradise Now.
All three productions use the same creative teams – design is by Jon Bausor, lighting by Jon Clark, music and sound by Christopher Shutt and movement by Fin Walker.
The Comedy of Errors
Shakespeare's joyful comedy of mistaken identity is directed by Amir Nizar Zuabi, founder of the Palestinian theatre company ShiberHur. Past productions include In The Penal Colony and I Am Yusuf And This Is My Brother, which he wrote and directed (Young Vic).
The cast also includes: Ankur Bahl, Sarah Belcher (Luce), Amie Burns Walker (Courtesan), Kirsty Bushell (Adrianna), Nicholas Day (Egeon), Sandy Grierson (Solinus), Stephen Hagan (Antipholus of Ephesus), Felix Hayes (Dromio of Ephesus), Solomon Israel, Jan Knightley (First Merchant), Bruce Mackinnon (Dromio of Syracuse), Jonathan McGuinness (Antipholus of Syracuse), Kevin McMonagle (Second Merchant), Cecilia Noble (Abbess) and Sargon Yelda (Angelo).
Twelfth Night
Shipwrecked on the shores of a strange land, Viola believes her twin brother Sebastian drowned. Disguising herself as a boy, she finds herself a go-between for the man she serves and the woman who refuses to love him.
Playwright, screenwriter and stage director David Farr directs both Twelfth Night and The Tempest. An Associate Director of the RSC whose work has been performed all over the world, his latest play, The Heart of Robin Hood, premieres in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on 18 November 2011.
The cast also includes: Ankur Bahl (Curio), Sarah Belcher (Chambermaid), Amie Burns Walker (Chambermaid), Kirsty Bushell (Olivia), Nicholas Day (Sir Toby Belch), Sandy Grierson (Captain), Stephen Hagan (Sebastian), Felix Hayes (Fabian), Solomon Israel (Officer). Jan Knightley (Antonio), Bruce Mackinnon (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Jonathan McGuinness (Orsino), Kevin McMonagle (Feste), Cecilia Noble (Maria) and Sargon Yelda (Valentine).
The Tempest
Prospero is usurped from his position as Duke of Milan and cast away with his daughter Miranda to a remote island. Intent on revenge, he raises a magical tempest that shipwrecks his enemies on his shores.
The cast includes: Ankur Bahl (Spirit), Sarah Belcher (Spirit), Amie Burns Walker (Spirit), Kirsty Bushell (Sebastian), Nicholas Day (Gonzalo), Sandy Grierson (Ariel), Stephen Hagan (Francisco), Felix Hayes (Trinculo), Solomon Israel (Ferdinand), Jan Knightley (Boatswain/Spirit), Bruce Mackinnon (Stephano), Jonathan McGuinness (Antonio), Kevin McMonagle (Alonso), Cecilia Noble (Spirit) and Sargon Yelda (Adrian).
All three productions play in repertoire in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, before transferring to The Roundhouse in London. For booking and more information visit www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk