Royal Shakespeare Company update on The Tempest
Mark Quartley has joined the cast to play Ariel in the RSC’s forthcoming production of The Tempest, which opens in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in November 2016 to conclude Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary year.
Mark will be taking on a whole new area of stage craft by wearing a motion capture suit provided by The Imaginarium Studios, live on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage for the very first time. This allows the movements of his ‘avatar’ Ariel to be projected on and around the stage, including flying and morphing into different versions of the spirit which are delivered using Intel technology.
Mark’s previous theatre work includes Written on the Heart and Measure for Measure (RSC 2011/12), Private Peaceful (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Macbeth (Trafalgar Studios), Ghosts (Rose theatre, Kingston) and a regular role in the television comedy Hoff the Record
As previously announced, Gregory Doran directs the award-winning Simon Russell Beale as Prospero, as he returns to the Company for the first time in 23 years.
This production of Shakespeare’s late play, in collaboration with Intel and in association with The Imaginarium Studios, has been in development since September 2015, and aims to break new boundaries in theatre-making with the very first live motion capture performance appearing in a major classical stage production.
Also announced today is confirmation that The Tempest will be broadcast live to cinemas across the UK and Europe, as part of the RSC’s ongoing Live from Stratford-upon-Avon screenings which started in 2013. The live broadcast will take place on 11 January 2017, followed by encore screenings around the world. Picturehouse Entertainment continues to be the RSC’s worldwide distribution partner.
The rest of the cast will be announced shortly.
The production is designed by RSC Director of design Stephen Brimson Lewis, with music by Paul Englishby and sound by Jeremy Dunn and Andy Franks, Lighting by Simon Spencer and video by Finn Ross
A short film showing the first meeting between Prospero and his Ariel is available on www.rsc.org.uk
The RSC in Edinburgh:
To hear more about the production’s unique use of digital technology on stage at the RSC, speakers from Intel, The Imaginarium Studios and the Royal Shakespeare Company will be talking as part of the Edinburgh Digital Festival on 22 August. For more information: https://www.edef.co.uk/
There are also screenings of seven Live from Stratford-upon-Avon productions at the Assembly Rooms. For more information: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=RSC
The Tempest
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Gregory Doran
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 8 November 2016 – 21 January 2017
Press night: Thursday 17 November, 7pm
Live from Stratford-upon-Avon screening: Wednesday 11 January, 7.15pm
For further information, please contact Philippa.harland@rsc.org.uk 0207 845 0512
Notes to Editors
Tickets: www.rsc.org.uk or 01789 403493
Cinema listings will be available from https://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/in-cinemas/?from=ql
The Tempest in collaboration with Intel and in association with The Imaginarium Studios
The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION
The BP £5 ticket scheme and BP Shakespeare Pass for 16 – 25 year olds gives access to £5 tickets for all RSC productions in Stratford-upon-Avon, London or on tour. Tickets can be booked in advance on the phone, online or in person with some availability for sale on the day of the performance
The Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company creates theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world. We produce an inspirational artistic programme each year, setting Shakespeare in context, alongside the work of his contemporaries and today’s writers.
Everyone at the RSC - from actors to armourers, musicians to technicians - plays a part in creating the world you see on stage. All our productions begin life at our Stratford workshops and theatres and we bring them to the widest possible audience through our touring, residencies, live broadcasts and online activity. So wherever you experience the RSC, you experience work made in Shakespeare’s home town.
We have trained generations of the very best theatre makers and we continue to nurture the talent of the future. We encourage everyone to enjoy a lifelong relationship with Shakespeare and live theatre. We reach 530,000 children and young people annually through our education work, transforming their experiences in the classroom, in performance and online.