RSC TO TOUR FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION OF "THE TEMPEST"
FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION OF "THE TEMPEST"
Performances run January – March 2017
Press performance to be announced in September 2016
Performances in Stratford-upon-Avon, followed by UK tour playing in schools and theatres in York, Stoke-on-Trent, Cornwall, Blackpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northampton and London
The Royal Shakespeare Company continues its commitment to creating live theatre for young audiences with its First Encounters with Shakespeare production of The Tempest – Shakespeare’s magical last play of fun, fantasy and sorcery.
Directed by Aileen Gonsalves, and aimed at 8-13 year olds, the production will open in January 2017 in Midlands schools and the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, before embarking on a seven week UK tour of schools and regional theatres. UK locations include York, Stoke-on-Trent, Cornwall, Blackpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northampton and London. Details at the end of the release.
The Tempest tells the story of the exiled Duke, Prospero, who, on a crazy island swirling with sounds, uses magic to create a home within the wilderness. As his beloved daughter Miranda falls in love with a shipwrecked stranger from their homeland, she rebels against Prospero’s power, and he must risk forgiving those who betrayed him, or lose her forever.
This gripping story of how love and reconciliation can conquer fear and control is an ideal first experience of Shakespeare for anyone aged 8 and above. Using Shakespeare’s original language, this edited version lasts 90 minutes, and includes an interactive introduction to the world of the play.
Aileen Gonsalves said:
“We are interested in exploring and immersing the audience in the magic of the island that the characters are stranded on. The strange creature Caliban confides, “The isle is full of noises.” We want our young audience to help us create this enchanted place, bringing their own homemade instruments and joining in the singing with the 8 strong cast, as they fight for power under the control of the all mighty Prospero. His daughter Miranda, and the exquisitely “delicate” spirit Ariel show that only love can set them all free. The actors will respond uniquely to each new audience, who will use whatever is at their disposal – their voices, bodies, imaginations and each other - to join with us to create this unique “rough magic” version of Shakespeare’s most funny, touching and fantastical tale!”
Aileen trained as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Previous credits for the RSC include Assistant Director to Tim Supple on Midnight’s Children and Gregory Doran on All’s Well That Ends Well. Most recently Aileen has written and directed a piece in association with the LSO for The Barbican, called Play On Shakespeare. She has been Head of the MA in Acting for the last four years at Arts Educational Schools London, which she left last September to work as Associate Director at the RSC working alongside Gregory Doran on his forthcoming production of The Tempest. Aileen is Artistic Director of Butterfly Theatre, a company which specialises in site responsive productions of Shakespeare across the UK and Europe.
Jacqui O’Hanlon, RSC Director of Education, said:
“Many of us have our first encounter with Shakespeare at school, an experience which can define our attitude to live theatre and to Shakespeare for all of our lives. This tour of The Tempest will bring the excitement and wonder of Shakespeare’s work right into the heart of schools, regional theatres and local communities. Our First Encounters with Shakespeare tour is testament to the profound impact that partnerships between schools and theatres can have on the life chances of students - partnerships forged out of a shared vision for education in which access to the arts plays a central part."
Other members of the creative team include: Kate McStraw (Designer) and Lucy Cullingford (Movement).
Casting will be announced later in the year.
For further information please contact:
Dean Asker
RSC Press Office
01789 412660
dean.asker@rsc.org.uk
FIRST ENCOUNTERS PRODUCTION OF THE TEMPEST DATES:
The full performance schedule and booking details will be made available in September 2016
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON/WARWICKSHIRE 31 Jan-4 Feb 2017
Performances in schools
Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 1 February.
The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Friday 3 and Saturday 4 February
Box Office: 01789 403493, www.rsc.org.uk
On sale: September 2016
YORK 7-10 Feb 2017
Performances in schools
Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 February
York Theatre Royal
Thursday 9 – Friday 10 February
Box Office: 01904 623568, www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME/STOKE-ON-TRENT 15-18 Feb 2017
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Wednesday 15 February
Box Office: 01782 717962, www.newvictheatre.org.uk
Performances in schools
Thursday 16-Saturday 18 February
CORNWALL 21-24 Feb 2017
Performances in schools
Tuesday 21 – Friday 24 February
BLACKPOOL 28 Feb-4 March 2017
Performances in schools
Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 March
Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Thursday 2-Saturday 4 March
Box Office: 01253 290111, www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk
On sale: 5 August 2016
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE 7 – 10 March 2017
Performances in schools
Tuesday 7 – Friday 10 March
LONDON 14-18 March 2017
Performances in schools
Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 March
NORTHAMPTON AND STRAFORD-UPON-AVON 21-25 March 2017
Performances in Northampton schools
Tuesday 21 – Wednesday 22 March
The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon
Thursday 23 – Saturday 25 March
Box Office: 01789 403493, www.rsc.org.uk
On sale: September 2016
Notes to editors
In addition to this First Encounters with Shakespeare production of the The Tempest, the RSC, in collaboration with Intel and in association with The Imaginarium Studios, is presenting a separate production of the play, running in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon between 8 November 2016 – 21 January 2017. It is directed by RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran, with Aileen Gonsalves as Associate Director.