The season, featuring the RSC's 44-member ensemble, will begin Nov. 30 with Rupert Goold's production of Romeo and Juliet, which runs in repertory through Feb. 5, 2011, with Michael Boyd's production of Antony and Cleopatra; The Winter's Tale, directed by David Farr; Julius Caesar, directed by Lucy Bailey; As You Like It, directed by Boyd; and David Farr's King Lear.
The season also includes the RSC's two recent Young People's Shakespeare (YPS) productions created especially for children and families: Hamlet, directed by Tarell Alvin McCraney, and The Comedy of Errors(in association with Told by an Idiot), directed by Paul Hunter.
The RSC will again construct a specially-built thrust stage with a 750-seat auditorium wrapped around it, within the columns of the Roundhouse. The auditorium emulates Stratford's temporary 1,000-seat Courtyard Theatre, where the productions originate and which is the template for what will be the new configuration of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre stage, due to reopen in late 2010.
Michael Boyd, RSC artistic director, stated, "It is great to be returning to the Roundhouse where we had such success with The Histories cycle in 2008. London audiences will be able to see our ensemble in full flight - 44 actors pushing each other to set the bar of their achievements higher. From work of great emotion, elemental chaos and haunting tragedy, to moments of subversive wit and unabashed clowning, they have responded to a repertoire encompassing the broadest scope of human experience. When they touch down at the Roundhouse in our specially built auditorium in November it will mark a significant highpoint two years into their journey together.
"As well as full-scale Shakespeare productions, we will bring our energetic Young People's Shakespeares, which have captivated children and critics alike, and a whole programme of events and education initiatives. In February, the ensemble will return to Stratford-upon-Avon where they will open our new home with a short season of two Shakespeares and rehearse three new plays which we will bring to London in the spring of 2011." For more information call 0844 482 8008 or visit www.roundhouse.org.uk.
