RSC TO TOUR JULIUS CAESAR TO SCHOOLS AND THEATRES IN SPRING 2018
CONTINUING THE COMPANY’S FIRST ENCOUNTERS WITH SHAKESPEARE SERIES OF PRODUCTIONS FOR 7 – 13 YEAR OLDS ACROSS THE UK
Performances run January – March 2018
Press performance:
Monday 5 February, 1.30pm, Northbury Primary School, Barking, Essex
For over a decade the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has been giving young people a fantastic introduction in to the work of Shakespeare through its ground-breaking First Encounters touring shows. In 2018 the RSC will take a new abridged production of Julius Caesar out on the road into the heart of communities, performing in both schools and local theatres.
Directed and edited by Marieke Audsley, and aimed at 7-13 year olds, the production will open in January 2018 in Midlands schools and the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, before embarking on a seven week national tour of schools and regional theatres. Other locations include London, Cornwall, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Bradford, County Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Hull, Canterbury, Birmingham and Northampton. Details at the end of the release.
The young audiences will be actively involved in the show before it reaches their school or local theatre, effectively going into rehearsals at the same time as the professional cast. At each venue the students will play the Citizens of Rome. They will be invited to prepare the opening celebrations for Caesar’s return from war, maybe writing a song or creating a dance which they will teach the professional actors at the start of each show. The actors and audience will then perform the opening scene as a united company. Ahead of each visit schools will be given an activity pack, and will get regular updates from the rehearsal room, allowing the students to be fully engaged in the production.
Marieke Audsley said: "School is often the place where we first encounter Shakespeare. The RSC’s Education department is committed to making that experience as vivid, accessible and enjoyable as possible, and I am delighted to be working with them by directing this production.
“Giving first time audiences the chance to work on the play before seeing it live can make a huge difference. The RSC’s First Encounters’ productions take this a stage further by getting audiences actively involved: young people across the country are currently getting ready to rehearse scenes from the play in preparation for their roles as the citizens of Rome, and weighing up the pros and cons of Julius Caesar as a leader. They will also make props for the production, including a ‘phalera’, a big wooden disc representing their school or region, which will be added to the set.
“That feels a brilliant way to learn about the play and about the relevance of theatre in our lives.”
Jacqui O’Hanlon, RSC Director of Education, said: “Shakespeare’s plays always shine a brilliant light on the world we live in today. Touring a production of Julius Caesar made for young people and first-time audiences feels particularly exciting because the play asks big questions about democracy, about the power of language, and about the rights and wrongs of any group of people taking power into their own hands by force. Listen to a group of ten year olds discussing the rights and wrongs of the assassination of Julius Caesar and you find out a lot more than just the story of the play. In the hands of young people, Shakespeare acquires a new resonance and generates a thirst for learning that can last for life.”
This is Marieke Audsley’s RSC directing debut. She trained as a director at Birkbeck College after reading English at the University of Cambridge. Her previous RSC credits, as Assistant Director, include Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar and A Mad World My Masters. Other directing credits include Feed the Beast, Love and Money and The Same Deep Water As Me (GSA), The Voice of the Turtle (GoPeople Theatre), Sleight & Hand (Summerhall), Civil Rogues (Pleasance Edinburgh and Islington), While the Sun Shines (Lion and Unicorn) and The Rover (Drama Studio, Sheffield). Further credits as an assistant/associate director include The Entertainer, The Painkiller (Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company's season at the Garrick), Show Boat (New London), Othello (Crucible) and Lungs (Crucible Studio).
The cast includes Kristin Atherton (Cassius) and Tom Lorcan (Brutus), both currently appearing in the RSC’s season of Rome plays at the Barbican in London. Further casting to be announced.
Other members of the creative team include: Lisa Connell (Fights), Max Dorey (designer), Natasha Harrison (Movement) and Yvonne Morley (Voice/Text).
For further information please contact:
Dean Asker
RSC Press Office
01789 412660
dean.asker@rsc.org.uk
FIRST ENCOUNTERS PRODUCTION OF JULIUS CAESAR DATES:
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON/WARWICKSHIRE 30 Jan-3 Feb 2018
Sydenham Primary School, Leamington Spa
Tuesday 30 January, 1.30pm (schools’ performance)
Newburgh Primary School,Warwick
Wednesday 31 January, 1.30pm (schools’ performance) and 6.30pm (community performance; tickets not available publicly)
The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Friday 2 February, 10am and 2pm (public performances)
Saturday 3 February, 10am (public performance)
Box Office: 01789 403493, www.rsc.org.uk
LONDON 5 Feb 2018
Northbury Primary School, Barking, Essex
Monday 5 February, 10am (schools’ performance), 1.30pm (schools’ and press performance)
CORNWALL 7-9 Feb
Treviglas College
Wednesday 7 February, 1pm (schools’ performance) and 7pm (public performance)
Thursday 8 February, 1pm (schools’ performance) and 7pm (public performance)
Tickets available from Hall for Cornwall Box Office, 01872 262466, hallforcornwall.co.uk
Launceston College
Friday 9 February, 1pm (schools’ performance) and 7pm (public performance)
Tickets available from Launceston College, 01566 772468
STAFFORDSHIRE 14-17 Feb 2018
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Wednesday 14 February, 2.15pm and 7.30pm (public performances)
Box Office: 01782 717962, www.newvictheatre.org.uk
Springhead Primary School, Stoke-on-Trent
Thursday 15 February, 2pm (schools’ performance) and 7pm (public performance)
Friday 16 February, 10am and 2pm, (schools’ performances)
Tickets available from New Vice Theatre Box Office, 01782 717962, www.newvictheatre.org.uk
Keele University Chapel
Saturday 17 February, 11am and 2.15pm (public performances)
Tickets available from New Vice Theatre Box Office, 01782 717962, www.newvictheatre.org.uk
BINGLEY AND BRADFORD 20-24 February 2018
Samuel Lister Academy, Bingley
Tuesday 20 February, 11am (schools’ performance) and 6.30pm (public performance)
Ticket details TBC
The Studio (Bradford Theatres)
Wednesday 21 February, 2pm (public performance)
Thursday 22 February, 10.30am and 2pm (public performances)
Friday 23 February, 10.30am (public performance)
Saturday 24 February, 1.30pm and 5pm (public performances)
Box Office: 01274 432000, www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
COUNTY DURHAM/ NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE 27 February-2 March 2018
Hunwick Primary School, County Durham
Tuesday 27 February,1pm (schools’ performance) and 6.30pm (public performance)
Ticket details TBC
Crook Primary School, County Durham
Wednesday 28 February, 1.15pm (schools’ performance) and 6pm (public performance)
Ticket details TBC
Sacred Heart High School, Newcastle upon Tyne
Thursday 1 March, 1.30pm (schools’ performance) and 6pm (public performance)
Friday 2 March, 1.15pm (schools’ performance) and 6pm (public performance)
Tickets available from Sacred Heart School, 01912 747373
HULL 6-10 March 2018
St Mary’s College
Tuesday 6 March, 1.45pm (schools’ performance) and 7pm (public performance)
Wednesday 7 March, 1.45pm (schools’ performance) and 7pm (public performance)
Ticket details TBC
Hull Truck Theatre
Thursday 8 March, 7pm (pubic performance)
Friday 9 March, 10.30am and 7pm (public performances)
Saturday 10 March, 2pm (public performance)
Box Office: 01482 323638, www.hulltruck.co.uk
KENT 13-17 March 2018
The Marlowe Theatre Studio, Canterbury
Tuesday 13 March, 10am and 1.30pm (public performances)
Wednesday 14 March, 1.30pm (public performance)
Box Office: 01227 787787, marlowetheatre.com
King Ethelbert School, Birchington-on-Sea
Thursday 15 March, 1.30pm (schools’ performance) and 7pm (public performance)
Ticket details TBC
Canterbury High School
Friday 16 March, 11.30am (schools’ performance)
The Marlowe Theatre Studio, Canterbury
Saturday 17 March, 2pm and 7pm (public performances)
Box Office: 01227 787787, marlowetheatre.com
BIRMINGHAM/ NORTHAMPTON AND STRAFORD-UPON-AVON
20-24 March 2018
Nelson Mandela Primary School, Birmingham
Tuesday 20 March, 1.30pm (schools’ performance) and 7pm (public performance)
Ticket details TBC
Lings Primary School, Northampton
Wednesday 21 March, 1.30pm (schools’ performance)
The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon
Thursday 22 March, 2pm and 7pm (public performances)
Friday 23 March, 10.30am and 2pm (public performances)
Saturday 24 March, 2.30pm (public performance)
Box Office: 01789 403493, www.rsc.org.uk
Notes to editors
Kristin Atherton and Tom Lorcan who will, respectively, play Cassius and Brutus in the First Encounters with Shakespeare production of Julius Caesar, are both currently appearing in the RSC’s season of Rome plays at the Barbican in London, which includes productions of Antony and Cleopatra, Titus Andronicus and a separate, full length production of Julius Caesar. The productions run in repertoire until 20 January 2018. https://www.rsc.org.uk/rome
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. Registered charity no. 212481 www.rsc.org.uk.
About RSC Education
We encourage everyone to enjoy a lifelong relationship with Shakespeare and live theatre and through our Education work change the way that children and young people experience Shakespeare at school. Our approach is rooted in a 130 year history of making theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and sharing that wealth of skills and knowledge with teachers and students all over the world.
We build long term relationships with school, teachers and communities and particularly those who have the least access to Shakespeare, the RSC and cultural provision. Each year we reach over 530,000 young people in over 1,200 schools across the UK, inspiring children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities and ensuring that Shakespeare is for everyone.
Further information from: www.rsc.org.uk/education
The work of the RSC Education Department is generously supported by PAUL HAMLYN FOUNDATION, THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER FOUNDATION, THE POLONSKY FOUNDATION and THE ERNEST COOK TRUST.