Shakespeare's Globe Announces Kings and Rogues Season for 2010

By Mark Shenton
30 Nov 2009

The 2010 season at Shakespeare's Globe on London's South Bank will launch on April 23 – Shakespeare's birthday – with performances of a new production of Macbeth, which will run in rep through June 27. Presented under the umbrella title Kings and Rogues, the season will embrace some of the playwright's most regal rogues and some of his most roguish kings.

The season will include new productions of Henry VIII and Henry IV, parts 1 and 2, as well as a return season for the Globe's 2008 production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Christopher Luscombe. There will also be new plays by Howard Brenton and Nell Leyshon, plus regional tours for its 2009 productions of The Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

In a press statement, Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of the theatre, commented, "Our building continues to embrace the most democratic audience in the world – all of us a rogue and a king in our own way – much like William Shakespeare. The 2010 theatre season offers a flavor of some of his wild, warm, violent and virtuous kings and rogues – plus new creations from two of our most rousing, contemporary playwrights. We are proud to continue our national and international touring, reaching out to new audiences for the Globe."

Dromgoole will himself direct both parts of Henry IV, and John Dove will direct the world premiere of Howard Brenton's Anne Boyleyn. The creative teams for the other productions are still to be announced.

Macbeth begins performances April 23, prior to an official opening April 29, for a run in rep through June 27. Henry VIII begins performances May 15, prior to an official opening May 15, for a run in rep through Aug. 21. Henry IV Part 1 begins performances June 6, prior to an official matinee performance opening July 14, for a run in rep through Oct. 2. Henry IV Part 2 begins July 3, prior to an official evening performance opening July 14, for a run in rep through Oct. 3. Howard Brenton's Anne Boleyn begins performances July 24, prior to an official opening July 28, for a run in rep through Aug. 21. The Merry Wives of Windsor returns for a run beginning performances Aug. 14, prior to an official opening Aug. 19, for a run through Oct. 2. Nell Leyshon's Bedlam begins performances Sept. 5, prior to an official opening Sept. 9, for a run through Oct. 1.

Brenton previously saw his play In Extremis presented at the Globe in 2006 and 2007. According to press materials, his new play Anne Boleyn dramatizes the life and legacy of Henry VIII's notorious second wife, exploring both her passion for the King and her love of the most dangerous ideas of her day. Director Dove has previously directed The Winter's Tale at the Globe in 2005.

Bedlam, described in press materials as a "fictional portrayal of a London hospital for the insane, based on direct research from Bethlem Royal Hospital", marks the first-ever staging at the Globe, in either its original or current incarnation, of a play by a known female playwright. Leyshon won the Evening Standard Most Promising Playwright Award for her play Comfort Me with Apples.

In addition to its main-stage programme, Shakespeare's Globe will revive its 2009 touring productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream (directed by Raz Shaw) and The Comedy of Errors (directed by Rebecca Gatward.) In addition to their tours, both productions will also play two separate weeks at Shakespeare's Globe.

Public booking for the season will begin from Feb. 15. To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7901 9919 or 020 7087 7398 or visit www.shakespeares-globe.org on or after this date.