Preparations are in full swing for a glorious Summer of Shakespeare for the North and South, as the full company of SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE, the award-winning pop-up Shakespearean Theatre, comes together for the first time ahead of its triumphant return to York this summer, and its expansion to a second site at Blenheim Palace. The SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE Company has commenced rehearsals for eight of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, which will be performed in repertory by two companies of actors based at each location.
Over the last few weeks a huge tented rehearsal village has sprung up outside York at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, which becomes a custom-built temporary home to one of the largest Shakespearean companies in Europe, and possibly the world, this summer. The 2100 square metre rehearsal village is made up of seven tents in total: the two biggest acting as the main performance spaces, able to accommodate areas bigger than the eventual stage, and audiences who will be able to attend open rehearsals. Other tents will be used as stage management offices, a green room (holding up to 70 people at one time), wardrobe spaces and break out rooms for dance, fight and vocal calls.
Artistic Director of SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE, Damian Cruden said, “It’s wonderful to have such a unique and bespoke rehearsal space that accommodates the needs of creating eight fantastic Shakespearean productions and encourages strong creative collaboration.”
In total, 75 actors, 22 creatives, 12 musicians and 41 crew have taken up residence in the grounds of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, the company’s home until the two pop-up Elizabethan theatres are constructed at the foot of historic Clifford’s tower in York in May and in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in June.
McArthurGlen Designer Outlet are also hosting an exhibition of costumes and props from SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE. The items from the 2018 plays of Richard III and Romeo and Juliet can be viewed all summer in Unit 19 at the South Atrium.
The York season of SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE will run from Tuesday 25 June – Sunday 1 September 2019, with Hamlet, Henry V, The Tempest and Twelfth Night, and the Blenheim Palace season will run from Monday 8 July – Saturday 7 September 2019 with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet and Richard III.
Originator of the project and CEO of international theatre company, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, James Cundall MBE, said “Shoppers at York’s Designer Outlet have already been taken aback by blood-curdling war cries and delighted at the beautiful poetic verse emanating from our rehearsal village… I am both excited and proud to have brought together such an incredible company – we may well be the largest in the world right now!”
Full casting has been announced for the four companies – previously announced cast includes Maggie Bain (Netflix’s Black Mirror, The End of the F***ing World, film Dark Sense and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare’s Globe) as ‘Henry V’; ITV’s Victoria star David Oakes as ‘Hamlet’; Sam Callis (Game of Thrones, The Bill) as ‘Prospero’ in The Tempest; and returning from last year’s SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE, Olivia Onyehara as ‘Viola’, Mark Holgate as ‘Orsino’, and Leandra Ashton as ‘Olivia’ in Twelfth Night.
The Blenheim Palace company includes Dave Fishley (recently seen in the West End as ‘William III’ in Queen Anne at the Theatre Royal Haymarket) as ‘Richard’ in Richard III; Emilio Iannucci (son of Armando) as ‘Romeo’ opposite Ella Dunlop (recently seen in The Secret Garden at York Theatre Royal) as ‘Juliet’ in Romeo & Juliet; Alex Avery (series regular in Doctors, The Bill and EastEnders) as ‘Macbeth’; and Paul Hawkyard (multiple West End credits, Coronation Street, Casualty, ) returns to SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE to play ‘Bottom’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
FULL CASTING, CREATIVE CREDITS AND PRESS NIGHTS IN NOTES TO EDITORS BELOW.
At both the York and Blenheim Palace sites, the Shakespearean theatres will be constructed using state-of-the-art scaffolding technology, corrugated iron and timber. Inspired by the famous London Rose Playhouse built in 1587, 12 years prior to The Globe, SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE will house an audience of 900, with 560 seated on three tiered balconies around an open-roofed courtyard with standing room for 340 ‘groundlings’.
Both theatres will be located within a Shakespearean village, bringing an authentic Elizabethan ambience and theatricality to the event, and will feature:
• ‘wagon’ performances of Elizabethan-style entertainment, including comic mini-plays, speeches and medieval musicians
• the best Yorkshire and Oxfordshire food and drinks, housed in the oak-framed and reed-thatched Bear Arms pub
• in York, an Elizabethan garden created by Yorkshire garden designer Sally Tierney, with ornate box-edged beds of roses, cottage flowers, herbs and vegetables. Mrs Tierney is the winner of a Silver-Gilt medal at the Royal Horticultural Society’s renowned Chelsea Flower Show, and created the Elizabethan garden for SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE in York last year to great acclaim.
• in Blenheim, a village pond, with farm wagons and carts, evoking a rustic rural scene
• tables and benches around the village, enabling visitors to enjoy the historic atmosphere.
SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE and Shakespeare’s Village are produced by Yorkshire-based Lunchbox Theatrical Productions. The Blenheim Palace season is presented in association with Raymond Gubbay Ltd and Blenheim Palace.
Grand Central Rail, an established train operator on the East Coast line linking York to London, returns in 2019 as title sponsor of SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE in York. Other returning sponsors are Fenwick luxury department store; the Grand Hotel and Spa, York’s only five star hotel; and Yorkshire’s daily national newspaper, The Yorkshire Post, back on board as official media partner. In addition to this, the McArthur Glen York Designer Outlet joins as a brand new sponsor for 2019 and are the hosts of the Rehearsal Village.
@ShakespearesRT
For more information on SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE or to book tickets at York please visit: www.shakespearesrosetheatre.com
To book tickets at Blenheim Palace please visit : www.blenheimpalace.com/shakespearesRT
YORK PRESS NIGHTS
Wednesday 3 July 2019 – Hamlet @ 2pm / The Tempest @ 7.30pm
Thursday 4 July 2019 – Henry V @ 2pm / Twelfth Night @ 7.30pm
NB these are matinee and evening shows, so reviewers can do both in one day.
BLENHEIM PALACE PRESS NIGHTS
Monday 15 July 2019 – Macbeth @ 7.30pm
Tuesday 16 July 2019 – Romeo and Juliet @ 7.30pm
Wednesday 17 July 2019 – Midsummer Night’s Dream @ 7.30pm
Thursday 18 July 2019 – Richard III @ 7.30pm
CAST AND CREW CREDITS
Making up the 19-strong Macbeth/A Midsummer Night’s Dream company at Blenheim Palace are Nana Amoo-Gottfried (Ross & Lysander), Alex Avery (Macbeth & Snug), Ellie Burrow (Lady Macduff/Young Siward & Fairy Queen/Peaseblossom), Charlie Cameron (Witch 3/Murderer 2/Scottish Doctor & Puck), Christopher Chilton (Witch 1/Murderer 1/Messenger & Snout/Fairy), Suzy Cooper (Lady Macbeth & Peter Quince), Claire Cordier (Hecate/Gentlewoman/Messenger/Seyton & Hippolyta/Oberon), Maria Gray (Donalbain/Witch 2/Murderer 3 & First Fairy/Cobweb), Paul Hawkyard (Macduff & Bottom), Adam Kane (Malcolm & Fairy), Tom Kanji (Old Man/Siward/Apparition 3 & Theseus/Titania), Mark Peachey (Banquo & Demetrius), Shane Quigley Murphy (Lennox & Starveling/Fairy/Moth), Adam Slynn (Captain/Apparition 2/Servant & Philostrate/Mustardseed/Fairy King), Paul Stonehouse (Duncan/Porter/English Doctor & Egeus/Fairy), Toby Vaughan (Swing/Cover & Flute/Fairy), Elexi Walker (Angus/Lord/Messenger & Helena), Jenny Wall (Apparition 3 & Fairy), and Francesca Zoutwelle (Apparition 1/Menteith & Hermia).
Making up the 19-strong Romeo & Juliet/Richard III company at Blenheim Palace are Bonnie Baddoo (Prologue/Balthasar & Lady Anne/Messenger 2/Soldier/Oxford), James Bradwell (Friar Laurence & Archbishop of York/Bishop of Ely/Priest/Oxford), Matthew Brown (Peter/Page & Soldier/Sheriff/Blunt), Daniel Burke (Paris/Officer & Brackenbury/Ratcliffe), Jonathan Christie (Mercutio/Officer & Dorset/Soldier), Grace Cookey-Gam (Princess Escalus & Duchess of York/Herbert/Soldier), James Coutsvalis (Swing), Ella Dunlop (Juliet & Rivers/Messenger 3/Page/Surrey/Soldier), Dave Fishley (Sampson & Richard III), Mathilda Holland (Swing), Emilio Iannucci (Romeo & Grey/Messenger 4/Brandon/Soldier/Citizen 3), John Macaulay (Capulet & Clarence/Lovel), William Mannering (Abraham/Friar John/Constable & Buckingham), Doireann May White (Benvolia & Hastings/Alderman/Messenger/Soldier), Anna Northam (Lady Montague/Apothecary & Catesby/Soldier), Amanda Ryan (Lady Capulet & Queen Elizabeth), Jay Saighal (Tylbalt/Officer & Richmond/Tyrell/Murderer 2/Corpse), Nicola Sanderson (Nurse & Derby/Gaol Keeper/Soldier/Citizen 1), and Simon Startin (Montague & Edward IV/Lord Mayor).
Making up the 18-strong Hamlet/Twelfth Night company in York are Leandra Ashton (Courtier/Soldier/Sailor & Olivia), Antony Bunsee (Player King/Courtier/Soldier & Priest), Clare Corbett (Horatio & Feste/Sailor), Marcello Cruz (Laertes/Soldier & Sebastian), Fine Time Fontayne (Ghost 1/Player 1/Digger 1/Lord & Sir Toby Belch/Sailor/Musician), Hannah Francis-Barker (swing), Mark Holgate (Marcellus/Fortinbras/Player 3 & Orsino), Gordon Kane (Polonius/English Ambassador & Captain), Rina Mahoney (Gertrude & Maria/Sailor), Serena Manteghi (Ophelia & 1st Officer), David Oakes (Hamlet & 2nd Officer/Sailor), Olivia Onyehara (Osric/Courtier/Soldier & Viola), Alex Phelps (Courtier/Reynaldo/Priest/Soldier & Sir Andrew Aguecheek/Sailor/Musician), Richard Standing (Claudius & Curio/Musician), Claire Storey (Ghost 2/Player 2/Digger 2 & Malvolio/Sailor/Musician), Cassie Vallance (Guildenstern/Bernardo & Fabien/Sailor) Wreh-asha Walton (Rosencrantz/Francisco & Valentine) and Declan Wilson (Voltimand/Captain & Antonio/Sailor).
Making up the 19-strong Tempest/Henry V company in York are Ali Azhar (Male Spirit & Dauphin/French Soldier), Maggie Bain (Antonia & Henry V), Raphael Bushay (Caliban & Montjoy/Chorus), Sam Callis (Prospero & King of France/Erpingham), Niall Costigan (Alonso & York/Governor/Bourbon), Richie Daysh, (Boatswain & Pistol), Leander Deeny (Ariel & Constable/Grey), Jessica Dennis (Female Spirit/Ceres & Chorus/Williams/Nym), Charlyne Francis (Iris & Katherine/Boy), Alexandra Guelff (Miranda & Alice/Scrope/Court/Chorus), Scott Hoatson (Francisco & Westmoreland/Chorus), Alexander Knox (Ferdinand & Bates/Gloucester), Christopher Logan (Trinculo & Orleans/MacMorris/Cambridge), Amy Loughton (Adrian & Fluellen/Chorus), Peter Moreton (Stephano & Canterbury/Bardolf/Burgundy), Johanne Murdock (Juno & Duke of Exeter), Marilyn Nnadebe (Female Spirit & Duke of Berri/Soldier), Paul Sockett (Sebastian & Gower/Chorus) and Flo Wilson (Gonzala & Ely/Hostess/Isabel).
Damian Cruden, artistic director at York Theatre Royal for 22 years, returns to SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE, having directed Macbeth last year in York. This year he will direct Hamlet and will serve as overall artistic director for the Company. Award-winning writer Joyce Branagh, who has directed Measure for Measure at Lancaster Castle as well as Much Ado About Nothing at Vienna’s English Theatre, and is the sister of acclaimed Shakespearean actor and director Kenneth Branagh, will join the company to direct Twelfth Night; Philip Franks, best known for playing the role of Charley opposite Catherine Zeta Jones in The Darling Buds of May, and more recently Associate Director at Chichester Festival Theatre, will direct The Tempest; and Gemma Fairlie, recently Associate Director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre and award-winning director of outdoor physical theatre company Light the Fuse, will direct Henry V. Sara Perks also returns to SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE, this year as overall season designer as well as scenic and costume designer for Hamlet and costume designer for Twelfth Night. Adrian Linford will be scenic and costume designer for The Tempest and costume designer for Henry V. Max Dorey will be scenic designer for Twelfth Night and Henry V.
Tom Wright will be Associate Director for Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Juliet Forster, who was the original director of A Midsummer Night’s Dream last year, will turn her skills to directing Romeo & Juliet this year. Amy Yardley will be associate scenic designer for both Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and scenic designer for Romeo & Juliet. Sarah Mercade will be associate costume designer for Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo & Juliet. Lucy Pitman-Wallace will direct Richard III, which will have scenic and costume design by Adam Nee.
