Press night for new production of Coriolanus
07 March 2007
Today - 6 March 2006 at 7pm sees the press night for Gregory Doran’s new production of Coriolanus in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST) with William Houston in the title role. This will be the final production in the RST before work begins on its transformation.
2.45pm, 6 March 1926 was the date that the major fire which burnt the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre (now the Swan Theatre) was first spotted.
The 1926 company was about to begin rehearsals for a major season, which was to open with Coriolanus. Despite the fire, the director (William Bridges-Adams) and Flower family (who governed the theatre) were determined to go ahead with the season – and on 7 March – work began to transform the local cinema in Stratford’s Greenhill Street into a theatre.
The official opening night for Coriolanus went ahead as scheduled on Shakespeare’s Birthday – 23 April 1926 with George Skillan in the title role.
After the fire an international competition was launched to design a new theatre. The new Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, designed by Elisabeth Scott, opened in 1932. It was re-named the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 1961.
The RSC’s current production of Coriolanus, which runs until 31 March 2007 in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, is directed by RSC Chief Associate Director Gregory Doran. The cast also includes Janet Suzman as Volumnia and Timothy West as Menenius.
For further information, please contact Nada Zakula in the RSC Press Office on 01789 412622.
Notes to Editors
CORIOLANUS by William Shakespeare
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
23 February – 31 March 2007
Press Night: Tuesday 6 March, 7pm
Box Office: 0844 800 1110 or www.rsc.org.uk
Coriolanus production photographs available from www.epo-online.com
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is scheduled to close for transformation in 2007, with completion scheduled for 2010. The aim is to create the best modern playhouse for Shakespeare’s works. Performances continue in the Swan Theatre until August 2007 and throughout the project in the RSC’s new temporary home, The Courtyard Theatre. More information on www.rsc.org.uk/transformation.
