Roxana Silbert 2011 Production

This modern-dress production featured leather-corseted costumes and a feisty Isabella from Jodie McNee.

A man stands, centre, wearing a leather corset, while two women dress him.
Raymond Coulthard's leather-clad Duke in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre
Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

SEX, LIES AND TRICKS

Roxana Silbert had previously directed Dunsinane and Little Eagles at Hampstead Theatre for the RSC. She approached Measure for Measure as if it was a modern play and, together with designer Garance Marneur, created a Vienna “that is like one vast S&M (sadomasochism) playground. Sex and punishments go together here” Lynn Gardner, Guardian. This prompted critic Charles Spencer, writing in The Daily Telegraph, to suggest that the RSC should change its name to the 'Really Sadistic Company'.

The vigorous production was also notable for strong performances from Jodie McNee as Isabella “taut, prim, holy heartlessness melting into grief, rage and final acceptance of loving sexuality” and Raymond Coulthard’s magician Duke “half-noble, half-trickster, forever conjuring letters from his sleeves with a smug-crooked smile” Libby Purves, The Times, 25 November 2011.

Discover more about how director Roxana Silbert approached the play in the video Falling in Love with Measure for Measure.

Production photos

Jodie McNee as Isabella in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Sam Marks as Friar Peter in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Paul Chahidi as Lucio in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Annette McLaughlin as Mistress Overdone in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Raymond Coulthard as Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Bruce Alexander as the Provost in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Ian Midlane as Elbow and Joseph Kloska as Pompey in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Mark Quartley as Claudio in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Catherine Hamilton as Mariana in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Joseph Kloska as Pompey in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Jodie McNee as Isabella and Raymond Coulthard as Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Jodie McNee as Isabella and Ian Midlane as Elbow in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Mark Quartley as Claudio and Sarah Ovens as Juliet in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Jodie McNee as Isabella in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images

Jamie Ballard as Angelo in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Donald Cooper © RSC Browse and license our images

Paul Chahidi as Lucio in Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Hugo Glendinning © RSC Browse and license our images
Launch Gallery

REHEARSAL PHOTOS

Sam Marks in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Raymond Coulthard (Duke Vincentio) and Jodie McNee (Isabella) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Jamie Ballard (Angelo) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Catherine Hamilton (Mariana) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Mark Quartley (Claudio) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Jodie McNee (Isabella) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Ian Midlane (Elbow) and Joseph Kloska (Pompey) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Annette McLaughlin (Mistress Overdone) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Jodie McNee (Isabella) and Paul Chahidi (Lucio) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Bruce Alexander (Provost) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Daniel Stewart (Barnadine) and Joseph Kloska (Pompey) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Joseph Kloska (Pompey) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Raymond Coulthard (Duke Vincentio) and Paul Chahidi (Lucio) in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images

Director Roxana Silbert in rehearsal for Measure for Measure, 2011, Swan Theatre.

Photo by Ellie Kurttz © RSC Browse and license our images
Launch Gallery
Programme cover for Measure for Measure 2011 showing a composite profile head of man and woman with crown against a red background

CAST AND CREATIVES

COMPANY

Swan Theatre

Bruce Alexander - Provost

Jamie Ballard - Angelo

Teresa Banham - Francisca

Geoffrey Beevers - Escalus

Paul Chahidi - Lucio

Raymond Coulthard - Duke Vincentio

Laura Darrall - Angelo's Servant

Catherine Hamilton - Mariana

Youssef Kerkour - Abhorsen/Gentleman 1/Varrius

Joseph Kloska - Pompey

Sam Marks - Friar Peter/Froth/Gentleman 2

Annette McLaughlin - Mistress Overdone

Jodie McNee - Isabella

Ian Midlane - Elbow/Messenger

Sarah Ovens - Juliet

Mark Quartley - Claudio

Daniel Stewart - Barnardine/Justice

 

CREATIVES

Director - Roxana Silbert

Designer - Garance Marneur

Lighting - Chahine Yavroyan

Music and Sound - Dave Price

Movement - Ayse Tashkiran

 

The RSC's archive is held at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. You can visit the Library and Archives there to look at production related information, including photos, videos of shows and stage management documents:

Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive homepage

You can search the RSC catalogue here: 

RSC performance database

You may also like