Ben Deery  returns to the RSC following last year's stint as Edmund in the Young People's Shakespeare production of King Lear. This time he is playing Publius in Titus Andronicus and Lieutenant Sponger in A Mad World My Masters on the Swan Theatre stage.

Rose Reynolds  makes her debut at the RSC, playing Lavinia in Titus Andronicus and company in both Mad World My Masters and Candide. Passionate, feisty country mouse at heart. Must love long walks and possess ample knowledge of the weather.

Andrew French  is playing Decius Brutus and Titinius in our production of Julius Caesar. This is his first production with the RSC. A company that he has waited a long time to play for.

In preparation for his production of The Orphan of Zhao in the 'A World Elsewhere' season this autumn, Greg Doran and Designer Niki Turner spent a week in Shanghai and Beijing on a research trip. Greg's blog reveals some of their attempts to learn as much as they can about Ming China in their brief visit.

Tom Piper is the RSC's Olivier Award-winning Associate Designer. He is designing Iqbal Khan's production of Much Ado About Nothing for the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, and the Noel Coward Theatre, London next year.

Tom is also working alongside the team designing Shakespeare: Staging the World - The BP Exhibition at the British Museum as part of the World Shakespeare Festival.

Tom's blog will take us from his initial research, designs and ideas through to the opening of Much Ado About Nothing and the British Museum exhibition in July.