RSC TO TOUR THE TEMPEST TO SCHOOLS AND THEATRES IN SPRING 2017
UPDATED WITH CASTING AND FULL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Performances run January – March 2017
Press performance: Thursday 16 February, 1.30pm, Springhead Primary School, Talke Pits, Stoke-on-Trent
Performances in Stratford-upon-Avon, followed by UK tour playing in schools and theatres in Warwick, Birmingham, Honley, York, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Cornwall, Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, London and Northampton
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 Warwick, Birmingham, Honley, York, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Cornwall, Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, London and Northampton. Details at the end of the release.
The cast includes: Alison Arnopp (Stephana/Sebastienne), Laura Cairns (Trincula/Alonsa), Elly Condron (Miranda), Caleb Frederick (Antonio), Sarah Kameela Impey (Ariel), Matthew McPherson (Caliban), Darren Raymond (Prospero) and Oliver Towse (Ferdinand).
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 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), Sianed Jones (Music) and Lucy Cullingford (Movement).
For further information please contact:
Dean Asker
RSC Press Office
01789 412660
dean.asker@rsc.org.uk
FIRST ENCOUNTERS PRODUCTION OF THE TEMPEST DATES:
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON/WARWICKSHIRE/BIRMINGHAM 31 Jan-4 Feb 2017
Newburgh Primary School, Warwick
Tuesday 31 January, 1.30pm and 6.30pm (schools performances)
St Alban’s Academy, Birmingham
Wednesday 1 February, 2pm (schools performance) and 6pm (public performance, tickets available on 0121 446 1300)
The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Friday 3 February, 10.30am and 2pm
Saturday 4 February, 10.30am
Box Office: 01789 403493, www.rsc.org.uk
YORK AND HONLEY 7-10 Feb 2017
Honley High School
Tuesday 7 February, 1.15pm (schools performance) and 6.30pm (public performance, tickets available on 01484 222347)
York High School
Wednesday 8 February, 11.45am (schools performance) and 7pm (public performance, tickets available on 01904 555501)
York Theatre Royal
Thursday 9 February, 1pm and 7.30pm
Friday 10 February, 10.30am and 7.30pm
Box Office: 01904 623568, www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME 15-18 Feb 2017
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Wednesday 15 February, 2.15pm and 7.30pm
Box Office: 01782 717962, www.newvictheatre.org.uk
Springhead Primary School
Thursday 16 February, 1.30pm (schools performance and press performance), 7pm (public performance, tickets available from New Vic Theatre Box Office, 01782 717962, www.newvictheatre.org.uk)
Friday 17 February, 10am and 2pm (schools performances)
Keele University Chapel
Saturday 18 February, 11am and 2.15pm (public performances, tickets available from New Vic Theatre Box Office, 01782 717962, www.newvictheatre.org.uk)
CORNWALL 21-24 Feb 2017
Launceston College
Tuesday 21 February, 1pm (schools performance) and 7.30pm (public performances, tickets available on 01566 772468)
Brannel School
Wednesday 22 February, 2pm (schools performance) and 7pm (public performances, tickets available on 01726 822485)
Treviglas College
Thursday 23 February, 1pm (schools performance), 7pm (public performance, tickets available from Hall for Cornwall, 01872 262466, www.hallforcornwall.co.uk)
Friday 24 February, 1pm (schools performance), 7pm (public performance, tickets available from Hall for Cornwall, 01872 262466, www.hallforcornwall.co.uk)
BLACKPOOL 28 Feb-4 March 2017
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School
Tuesday 28 February, 1.30pm (schools performance) and 7pm (public performance, tickets available from Blackpool Grand Theatre on 01253 290190, www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk)
Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Thursday 2 March, 10.15am and 2pm
Friday 3 March, 2pm and 7pm
Saturday 4 March, 10.15am and 2pm
Box Office: 01253 290190 www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE AND MIDDLESBROUGH 7 – 10 March 2017
Archibald Primary School, Middlesbrough
Tuesday 7 March, 2pm (schools performance), 6pm (public performance, tickets available from 01642 804101)
St Michael’s RC Primary School
Wednesday 8 March, 1.15pm (schools performance), 6pm (public performance, tickets available from 0191 273 9383 and admin@stmichaels.newcastle.sch.uk)
Sacred Heart Catholic High School
Thursday 9 March, 1.30pm (schools performance), 6pm (public performance, tickets available from 0191 274 7373)
Friday 10 March, 1.15pm (schools performance), 6pm (public performance, tickets available from 0191 274 7373)
LONDON 14-18 March 2017
Eastbury Community School
Tuesday 14 March, 9.30am and 2pm (schools performances)
Uxbridge High School
Wednesday 15 March, 11.25am (schools performance) and 6pm (public performance, tickets available from 01895 234060)
Thursday 16 March, 11.25am (schools performance) and 6pm (public performance, tickets available from 01895 234060)
Intermission Theatre, St Saviour’s Church, Walton Place, London
Friday 17 March, 7.30pm (public performance, tickets available from 020 7581 4620)
Saturday 18 March, 7.30pm, (public performance, tickets available from 020 7581 4620 )
Tickets available from 16 January 2017
NORTHAMPTON AND STRATFORD-UPON-AVON 21-25 March 2017
Lings Primary School
Tuesday 21 March, 1.30pm (schools performance) and 6.30pm (public performance, available from 01604 410369)
Wednesday 22 March, 10am (schools performance)
The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon
Thursday 23 March, 2pm and 7pm
Friday 24 March, 10.30am and 2pm
Saturday 25 March, 2.30pm
Box Office: 01789 403493, www.rsc.org.uk
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.
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.