FIRST LOOK: As You Like It, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

As You Like It

First look production images by Jane Hobson of Max Webster’s production of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. This great new production of As You Like It features original music by former Noah and the Whale frontman Charlie Fink. Olivia Vinall and Edward Hogg take the roles of Rosalind and Orlando, with Keziah Joseph and Beruce Khan in the roles of Celia and Oliver. Danny Kirrane plays Touchstone with Maureen Beattie as Jaques. Also joining the cast are Amy Booth-Steel (Audrey/Singer), Me’sha Bryan (Amiens/Singer), Joanne McGuinness (Phoebe/Singer), Jacade Simpson (Silvius/Singer), Jack Beale (Le Beau/Actor Musician) and Silas Wyatt-Barke (William/Actor Musician). Completing the cast are: Simon Armstrong (Duke Fredrick/Duke Senior), Gary Lilburn (Adam/Martext), Kristian Phillips (Charles the Wrestler/Jaques De Boys) and John Stahl (Corin). In the mythical Forest of Arden, a world of transformation where anything is possible and anything permissible, two young people discover … Read more

Globe brings to life plays before Shakespeare

Rare Triumphs of Love and Fortune

  On a winter’s day in London in 1582, the court of Elizabeth I celebrated Christmas and New Year with a play packed full of bickering gods, magic spells and romantic intrigue. No records remain of further performances of The Rare Triumphs of Love and Fortune for another 435 years until it was revived in a staged reading at Shakespeare’s Globe this year. Despite its framing device of a debate between Venus, representing love, and a personification of fortune, the cast and director John Hopkins reveal this play, by an anonymous author, to be surprisingly entertaining and lively with plenty of opportunities for comedy. It was one of four one-off performances as part of the latest Read Not Dead season running at the Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, co-ordinated by James Wallace from The Dolphin’s Back and devised in collaboration with the Before Shakespeare project. This research project focuses on the … Read more

FIRST LOOK: Antic Disposition’s Richard III UK Tour

Antic Disposition's Richard III

Following the success of their production of Henry V, Antic Disposition will present William Shakespeare’s Richard III at six cathedrals around the UK and at London’s historic Temple Church. We are pleased to bring you these first look production photos of this historic drama. The War of the Roses are over and King Edward IV rules England. But his brother, Richard, is in no mood to celebrate. With murder, deceit and dark humour as his weapons, Richard overcomes friends and foes alike to seize the crown. But as the body count rises, he soon learns that a throne founded on blood offers little security. Joining Antic Disposition for the first time, Toby Manley (Alice’s Adventures Underground; Look Left Look Right’s The Caravan; Early Days at the Finborough) will take on the principal role of Richard III in this darkly comic drama. The cast also includes Antic Disposition regulars Chris Courtenay, … Read more