Current and Forthcoming Shakespeare Productions in the UK

May 2012 onwards

All's Well That Ends Well

Custom Practice and Graffiti Productions.  Directed by Rae McKen.  Lion and Unicorn Theatre, London, 24 April – 19 May (08444 771 000).  http://www.graffitiproductions.com/ or www.custompractice.co.uk

Adaptations

Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 18 – 19 May (020 7401 9919).  From Tbilisi, Georgia. Performed in Georgian. [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Arpana.  Sunil Shanbag  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 23 – 24 May (020 7401 9919).  ‘From Mumbai, India.  Arpana will present a new Gujarati adaptation of All’s Well That Ends Well.  The production will be designed in the style of the Bhangwadi theatre that catered initially to an audience of daily wage labourers in the late nineteenth century, but over time became very popular with a wide range of audiences.  This style is a celebratory mix of live music, dance, and theatrical acting.  The production will feature some of Mumbai s most talented singer-actors.  Performed in Gujarati.’  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Antony and Cleopatra

Oyun Atolyesi.  Directed by Kemal Aydogan.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 26 – 27 May (020 7401 9919)  From Istanbul. Performed in Turkish.  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Chichester Festival Theatre Company.  Directed by Janet Suzman.  Michael Pennington (Antony), Kim Cattrall (Cleopatra).  Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, 7 – 29 September (01243 781312).  www.cft.org.uk

As You Like It

Custom Practice and Graffiti Productions.  Directed by Rae McKen.  The Lion and Unicorn Theatre, London, 24 April – 19 May (08444 771 000).  www.giantolive.com

Marjanishvili State Drama Theatre.  Directed by Levan Tsuladze.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 18 – 19 May (020 7401 9919).  From Tbilisi, Georgia. Performed in Georgian.  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 – World Shakespeare Festival].  www.shakespeares-globe.org or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

Lazarus Theatre Company. Directed by Gavin Harrington-Odedra. The Space, Canary Wharf, 29 May – 16 June. (020 7515 7799). www.lazarustheatrecompany.webs.com.  

Shakespeare at the Commandery. Directed by Chris Jaeger. Commandery, Worcester, 12 – 23 June (excluding Monday 18). (01905 611427).  http://www.worcesterlive.co.uk/shakespeare.asp

Iris Theatre. Directed by Dan Winder. Garden of St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, London, 28 June - 4 August. Promenade performance. http://www.iristheatre.com.

Sedos. Directed by Zoe Thomas Webb. Monkey House, Edinburgh Zoo, 19- 27 August; London dates tba. http://www.sedos.co.uk/2012/asyoulikeit.htm

Comedy of Errors

Rose Theatre, Bankside. Directed by David Pearce. 3 April – 4 May (020 7261 9565) www.rosetheatre.org.uk.

Royal Shakespeare Company.  Directed by Amir Nizar Zuabi. Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 14 March - 14 May and 16 July - 6 October; Roundhouse, London 1 June - 4 July. [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival]  (0844 800 1110) www.rsc.org.uk 

Roy– e-Sabs.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 30 – 31 May (020 7401 9919).  From Kabul, Afghanistan. Performed in Dari Persian.  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival] www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Bournemouth Shakespeare Players, Oriory House Gardens, 17 – 28 July  (01202 534 776). http://www.bshakespearep.btinternet.co.uk

Cotswold Arcadians. Hatherop Castle, 23 – 28 July (01285 898 019), http://www.arcadians.org/

Coriolanus

Adaptation

Chiten.  Directed by Motoi Miura.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 21 – 22 May (020 7401 9919).  From Kyoto, Japan.  ‘This renowned company from Kyoto works under the direction of one of Japan’s most imaginative artists, Motoi Miura.  Known for its minimalist and avant-garde vision, this company produces an expressive theatre rooted in the exploration of words, sound and the human body.’  Performed in Japanese  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Cymbeline

Ninagawa Company.  Directed by Yukio Ninagawa.  Barbican Theatre, London, 29 May – 1 June (0845 120 7550). [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival.].  www.barbican.org.uk or or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Adaptation

South Sudan Theatre Company.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 2 – 3 May (020 7401 9919).  From Kyoto, Japan.  ‘From Juba, South Sudan. The specially-formed South Sudan Theatre Company, from the world s newest country, will perform a Shakespeare play for the first time ever in Juba Arabic. Cymbeline offers a rich framework into which Sudanese culture and characterisation can be incorporated. In addition to questions of politics and the military, the play offers the opportunity to mix South Sudan s strong tradition of magic, prophets and soothsayers, class and caste and even child abduction. Questions of sexual morality are at the top of the social agenda in South Sudan and will provide a rich ground for an innovative adaptation of the play. Ultimately Cymbeline s story of hope and redemption provides a strong metaphor for South Sudan s own story. Performed in Juba Arabic  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Hamlet

Meno Fortas.  Directed by Eimuntas Nekrosius.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 2 – 3 June (020 7401 9919).  From Vilnius, Lithuania.  ‘Legendary Lithuanian director Eimuntas Nekrosius Hamlet is one of the most celebrated Shakespearean productions of our age.  It has toured the world and is now coming to London for the first time.  Nekrosius’ work, universally regarded as a new chapter in theatre history, engages with the sheer diversity of human nature, at once funny and violent, visceral and light-hearted, and always deeply compelling.’  Performed in Lithuanian  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

Adaptations

Two Gents Productions.  The Studio, Hawth, 14 May (01293 553 636).  ‘An urgent, poetic and spiritual re-imagining of the rarely seen First Quarto of Shakespeare's classic, as the award-winning Two Gents return following last year's Magetsi. Set in the twilight of a pre-colonial Zimbabwe, a world of unyielding beliefs and ritual, where the afterlife and the present co-exist. As the corpses mount, who buries who, and what danger is lurking in the wings of this small kingdom?’

Adapted by William Jessop.  Blue Apple Theatre.  Mill Studio, Guildford, 31 May (01483 440 000).  http://www.blueappletheatre.hampshire.org.uk/

The Lion King. Book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. Music by Elton John, Tim Rice, Lebo M, Julie Taymor, Mark Mancina, and Hans Zimmer. Walt Disney Company. Directed by Julie Taymor. Lyceum Theatre, London, 24 September 1999 – (0870 243 9000); Hippodrome, Bristol, 31 August – 17 November (0844 871 3012); Palace Theatre, Manchester, 1 December – 31 March 2013 (0870 401 3000).  . ‘A young lion grows up and learns that taking over the pride requires wisdom and maturity. Simba is the young lion, his wicked uncle is Scar and his father, killed by his uncle, is King Mustafa.’

The Rest is Silence.  Northern Stage & dreamthinkspeak.  Directed by Tristan Sharps. Riverside Studios, 13 - 23 June (020 8237 1111); Northern State, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 26 – 30 June (0191 230 5151).  ‘An ambitious textual and visual deconstruction of Hamlet, interweaving performance, film and installation to create a vigorous new interpretation that cuts to the heart of the play. Meditative and dreamlike in quality, the hallmark of dreamthinkspeak's productions, The Rest is Silence will be performed within a specially designed and multilayered structure, allowing the action to unfold on different levels and on all sides.’  [London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) - World Shakespeare Festival].  http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk  

Henry IV, pt.1

Compania Nacional de Teatro.  Directed by Hugo Arrevillaga.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 14 – 15 May (020 7401 9919).  From Mexico City, Mexico. Performed in Mexican Spanish  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

Progress Theatre Company.  Directed by Dan Clarke.  Caversham Court Gardens, Reading, 12 – 21 July (0118 960 6060).  www.progresstheatre.co.uk

Henry IV, pt.2

Elkafka Espacio Teatral.  Directed by Ruben Szuchmacher.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 15 – 16 May (020 7401 9919).  From Buenos Aires, Argentina.  ‘Ruben Szuchmacher, one of Argentina’s most influential and controversial theatre-makers, directs a new production of this elegiac and funny masterpiece.  A celebrated defender of the theatre’s freedom from the state, Szuchmacher’s work combines the richness of Shakespeare’s texts with a simple theatrical aesthetic.  His approach has won him great acclaim as one of the most admired Shakespearean artists in South America.’  Performed in Argentinian Spanish.  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Henry V

Propeller.  Directed by Edward Hall. Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, 1 – 5 May (02476 256431); Theatre Royal, Norwich, 8 – 12 May (01603 630000); Theatre Royal, Plymouth, 15 – 19 May (01752 267222); Hampstead Theatre, London, 4 – 21 July (Booking opens February 2012).  Touring with The Winter’s Tale until August 2012.  Other touring dates in UK and abroad to be confirmed at a later date.  www.propeller.org.uk

Shakespeare’s Globe.  Directed by Dominic Dromgoole.  Jamie Parker (Henry V). New Theatre, Cardiff, 1 – 5 May (029 2087 8889); The Playhouse, Oxford, 8 – 12 May (01865 305 305); Arts Theatre, Cambridge, 15 – 19 May (020 7907 7092); Theatre Royal, Bath, 22 – 26 May (01225 448 844); Playhouse, Salisbury, 28 May – 2 June (01722 320 333); Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 7 June – 26 August (020 7401 9919). [Part of Globe 2012 Theatre Season - The Play's The Thing] www.shakespeares-globe.org

Network Theatre Company. Directed by Julian Farrance. Network Theatre, London, 14-23 June. www.networktheatre.org.

Illyria.  The Hawth Amphitheatre, Crawley, 6 July (01293 553 636).  Other dates tbc  www.illyria.uk.com 

Henry VI, pt 1

Henry VI, Part 1:  The Occupation.  National Theatre Belgrade (in association with Laza Kostic Fund).  Directed by Nikita Milivojevic.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 11 - 13 May (020 7401 9919).  From Belgrade, Serbia. Performed in Serbian.  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

Henry VI, pt 2

Henry VI, Part 2:  England’s Fall.  National Theatre of Albania.  Directed by Adonis Filipi.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 12 – 13 May (020 7401 9919).  From Tirana, Albania.  ‘Shakespeare’s great meditation on riot and rebellion is brought to life by a company freed from a Communist dictatorship just over a decade ago.’  Performed in Albanian.  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

Henry VI, pt 3

Henry VI, Part 3:  The Chaos.  National Theatre of Bitola.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 12 – 13 May (020 7401 9919).  From Bitola, Macedonia.  ‘The third part of the trilogy is infused with live music, as traditional Macedonian songs punctuate the bloody action.  This grand drama of civil war is given new life for the Globe by the Bitola National Theatre, which staged the first play in the Macedonian language following the liberation of the country from the Axis Powers in 1944.’  Performed in Macedonian.  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Henry VIII

Adaptations

Rakata.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 29 - 30 May (020 7401 9919).  From Madrid, Spain.  ‘In 1533, the Spanish were enraged by Catherine of Aragon’s divorce from Henry VIII.  Eighty years later, Shakespeare engaged with the subject in his last play.  Now four hundred years later, Rakata, Madrid’s premier young classical company, re-imagine this play from a Spanish perspective, with the thrilling clarity they bring to their productions of Spanish Golden Age work.’  Performed in Spanish.  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Anne Boleyn by Howard Brenton.  Directed by John Dove.  Shakespeare’s Globe Company. Theatre Royal, Bath, 1 – 5 May (01225 448 844); Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, 8 – 12 May (0131 529 6000).  ‘Compelling, witty and often laugh-out-loud funny, this celebration of a great English heroine, Anne Boleyn leaps cunningly between generations to reveal the debt the outrageous yet scholarly James I owed to Anne when he reconciled England’s religious factions by creating his common, authorised Bible.  Hunting through an old chest, the newly crowned James discovers the controversial legacy of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s notorious second wife.  Time jumps back 70 years, when the witty and flirtatious Anne was in love with Henry, but also with the most dangerous ideas of her day.  Conspiring with the exiled William Tyndale, she plots to make England Protestant.  For ever.’  [Revival of 2010 hit - Part of the Word is God Theatre Season 2011] www.shakespeares-globe.org

Julius Caesar

I Termini Company.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 1 - 2 May (020 7401 9919).  From Rome, Italy.  A Benvenuti / Lungta production in collaboration with Teatro di Roma.  Performed in Italian.  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Royal Shakespeare Company.  Directed by Gregory Doran. Cast: Ray Fearon, Paterson Joseph.  Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 28 May – 7 July (0870 6091110); Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 19 – 28 July (08448 11 21 21); Noel Coward Theatre, London, 1 August – 15 September (0870 850 9175); Theatre Royal, Norwich, 16 – 20 October (01603 630 000).  [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival].  www.rsc.org.uk or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

New
Oddsocks. Derby Theatre, Derby, 11 – 13 June (01332 255 800) http://www.oddsocks.co.uk/

Adaptation

I, Cinna (The Poet) by Tim Crouch. Royal Shakespeare Company. Directed by Tim Crouch. Swan Theatre, 13 June - 6 July. (0844 800 1110) www.rsc.org.uk [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival]
 

King John

Royal Shakespeare Company. Directed by Maria Aberg. Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 6 April - 15 September. (0844 800 1110)www.rsc.org.uk [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival].

Gabriel Sundukyan National Academic Theatre.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 16 - 17 May (020 7401 9919).  From Yerevan, Armenia. Performed in Armenian.  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

King Lear

Citizens Company.  Directed by Dominic Hill.  David Hayman (Lear).  Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, 20 April – 12 May (0141 429 0022).  http://citz.co.uk

Lazarus Theatre Company. Directed by Ricky Dukes. The Space, Canary Wharf, 1 – 26 May. (020 7515 7799). www.lazarustheatrecompany.webs.com

Belarus Free Theatre.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 17- 18 May (020 7401 9919).  From Minsk, Belarus. Performed in Belarusian  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

Almeida Theatre.  Directed by Michael Attenborough.  Jonathan Pryce (Lear).  Almeida Theatre, London, 31 August – 3 November 2012 (020 7359 4404).  [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival]

Love's Labour's Lost

Northern Broadsides.  Directed by Barrie Rutter. Theatre Royal, York, 1 – 5 May (01904 623 568).  www.northern-broadsides.co.uk 

Adaptation

Deafinitely Theatre.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 22 - 23 May (020 7401 9919); Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, 29 – 30 May (01902 321 321).  ‘By translating the rich, pun-riddled text of Love’s Labour’s Lost into the physical language of BSL, Deafinitely Theatre create a new interpretation of Shakespeare's comedy, accessible to theatregoers of all backgrounds.’  Performed in British Sign Language (BSL).  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival] www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk www.shakespeares-globe.org or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Macbeth

New
Belt Up. An all-male take on Shakespeare's tragedy, set within a haunted labyrinth. This event takes place at House of Detention, Sans Walk, 17 April – 18 May (020 7407 0234). www.beltuptheatre.com

Icarus Theatre Collective. Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre, Taunton, 17 April (01823 283 244); Greenwich Theatre, Greenwich, 21 – 23 May (020 8858 7755).  www.icarustheatre.org

Teat rim. Kochanowskiegp Theatre.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 8 – 10  May (020 7401 9919).  From Opole, Poland.  Performed in Polish  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

Phoenix Players.  Phoenix Theatre, Bordon, 18 – 26 May (01420 472 664).  www.phoenix-arts.co.uk

Lord Chamberlain’s Men.  Directed by Andrew Normington.  Cawdor Castle, 31 May (01667 404401); Scarborough College, 1 June (01723 357869); RHS Garden Harlow Carr, 2 June (01423 502116); Ford Park House, 3 June (Ulverston TIC at the Coro 01229 587140 Or direct from Ford Park: 01229581845 (no Credit Cards)); Speke Hall, Liverpool, 27 June (0151 427 7231); East Riddlesdon, 17 July (01535 607075); Arley Hall & Gardens, Cheshire, 18 July (01565 777353); Harewood House, Leeds, 19 July (0113 2181000); Kiplin Hall, Richmond, 20 July (01748 818178); Fountains Abbey, Ripon, 21 July (0844 249 1895); The Bowling Green, Bristol, 1 August (0117 902 0344); Calke Abbey, 19 August (0844 249 1895); Glamis Castle, 25 August (01307 840393); Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh, 26 August (01668 214208); Bolton Castle, 27 August (01969 623981); Durham Castle, 28 August (0191 3324041); Ness Botanical Garden, Cheshire, 29 August (0151 3530123); Conwy Castle, Conwy, 31 August – 1 September (01492 872000); Nantclywyd y Dre, 2 September (01492 87200,).  www.tlcm.co.uk

Chelmsford Theatre Workshop, Civic Theatre, Chelmsford, 13 – 23 June (01245 606 505).http://chelmsfordtheatreworkshop.wordpress.com/current-season/

National Theatre of Scotland.  Directed by John Tiffany and Alan Goldberg.  Alan Cumming (Macbeth).  The Tramway, Glasgow, 14 – 30 June (0141 287 5511). www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

New London Company, The Lion and Unicorn Theatre (Giant Olive Theatre), Inner London, 19 June – 7 July (08444 771 000) www.giantolive.com [P]

New

Brighton Little Theatre. Directed by Harry Atkinson. Lewes Castle, 14 – 25 August (01273 77 77 48). http://www.the-little.co.uk

Cube Theatre. Sterts Art Centre, Upton Cross, 4 – 7 September (01579 362382); Minack Theatre, Porthcunio, 10 -14 September, (07785 263 499) http://www.cube-theatre.co.uk

Lyric Belfast.  Directed by Lynne Parker.  Northern Bank Stage, Belfast, 21 October – 24 November (028 9038 1081).

Worcester Repertory Company, Shakespeare at the Cathedral. Worcester Cathedral Gardens, Worcester, 24 – 27 October; Malvern Priory, Worcester, 2 – 3 November. http://www.worcesterlive.co.uk/shakespeare.asp  

Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company, Derby Theatre, November (dates tbc). www.derbyshakespeare.org.uk

Adaptations

2008:  Macbeth translation by Stanisuaw Baranczak (from William Shakespeare).  TR Warszawa. Lowland Hall, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, 11 – 18 August (no phone). Performed in Polish with English supertitles.  [Part of the Edinburgh International Festival] [P] ‘Military commander Macbeth unleashes a nightmare of carnage and destruction. A war on terror that is a war of terror. Set in a contemporary and brutal Middle Eastern conflict, 2008: Macbeth is unflinching in its depiction of the machine of violence that, once set in motion, works faster and ever more efficiently. If killing in a war is justified, so is killing in the privacy of one's home. If you can kill men, why not also women and children? With spectacular pyrotechnics, immersive video effects and an extraordinary, layered soundscape that plays tricks on the ear, Shakespeare's web of politics, ambition and the supernatural is transformed into a contemporary, and highly physical, theatrical film.’

Macbeth:  Leila & Ben - A Bloody History.  Adapted by Lotfi Achour and Anissa Daoud. Directed by Lotfi Achour.  Artistes Producteurs.   Riverside Studios, London 4 – 7 July (020 8237 1111); Northern Stage, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 12 – 14 July (0191 230 5151).  ‘A Tunisian Macbeth where Shakespeare’s malevolent tyrant and his wife are reincarnated as the equally diabolical modern-day duo, Leila and Zine Ben Ali.  Combining Shakespeare’s text with film and reportage, this production interrogates the way Arab leaders use, possess and perpetuate power.  Shakespeare’s vision of evil and driving ambition finds new resonance amidst a mafia-like culture.’  London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT)  [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival]

Baz Productions.  Directed by Sarah Bedi.  The Crypt, St Andrew’s Church, Holborn Viaduct, London, 18 October – 5 November (no phone).  ‘Baz Productions breathes new life into Macbeth whilst honouring the verse of this classic text. Hidden in the underground crypt of St Andrew, Holborn, Baz play the text and the 'game' like new. A small company of actors work to immerse the audience in a unique experience in a performance space like no other, swapping roles and locations as the story unfurls. Influenced by the sporting world, Baz aspires to make theatre that holds the tension and power of a sporting event. We see the focus of a highly trained athlete single-mindedly using every inch of their training to reach their goal. We see the fans of all ages that passionately support, defend and adore their teams. Baz uses this focus as our inspiration.’  www.bazproductions.co.uk

Measure for Measure

Richmond Shakespeare Society. Directed by John Crook. Mary Wallace Theatre, 28 April – 5 May (020 8744 0547). www.richmondshakespeare.org.uk/

The Merchant of Venice

Cut to the Chase. Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, London, 20 April – 12 May (01708 443 333). www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Habima National Theatre.  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 28 – 29 May (020 7401 9919).  ‘From Tel Aviv, Israel.  The Habima is the centre of Hebrew-language theatre worldwide. This production, of one of Shakespeare’s most controversial and most human plays, is their first visit to the United Kingdom.  Performed in Hebrew.’  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival.].  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Adaptation

Shylock by Gareth Armstrong. Directed by Gareth Armstrong.  Guy Masterson (Shylock).  Theatre Tours International. Dugdale Centre, London, 9 - 12 May (020 8807 6680); Bridge house Theatre, Hunslow, 2 June (01926 776 438). http://www.theatretoursinternational.com/

Merry Wives of Windsor

New
Guildford Shakespeare Company. General Theatre, Surrey 14 – 30 June (01483 304384) http://www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk/

Royal Shakespeare Company. Directed by Phillip Breen. Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 25 October – 12 January 2013 (0870 609 1110).  http://www.rsc.org.uk/

Adaptations

Opera.  Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi & Arrigo Boito.  Royal Opera House.  Directed by Robert Carsen.  Royal Opera House, London, 15 – 30 May 2012 (020 7304 4000). www.roh.org.uk 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

New

Open Air Theatre.  Directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel.  Regent’s Park, London, 2 June – 5 September (0844 826 4242).

Chapterhouse Theatre.  St Andrews Castle, St Andrews, 7 – 8 June; Hotel Endsleigh, Tavistock, 21 June; Old Boilingbroke Castle, 24 June;  Pennyhill Park Hotel, Bagshot, 1 July; Kedleston Hall, 6 July;  Crawley School, West Sussex, 10 July; Gibside, Newcastle upon Tyne, 11 July; Beverley Highschool, Eastriding of Yorkshire, 14 July; Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass, 15 July; Powerscourt Estate, Bray, Co Wicklow, 29 July; Buxted Park Hotel, Uckfield, 9 August; New Forest Northern Commons, Bramshaw, 10 August; Woburn Abbey, Woburn, 11 August (01525 290 666); Oystermouth Castle, Swansea, 15 August; Reaseheath College, Nantwich, 18 August; The Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, 19 August; Williamson Park, Lancaster, 21 – 22 August; Gilbert Whites Hotel, Hampshire, 26 August. www.chapterhouse.org

New
Gloucester Operatic & Dramatic Society. The Kings Theatre, Gloucester, 28 – 30 June (01452 396 572). www.thegodsglos.co.uk

Filter Theatre Company with The London Snorkelling Team.  Directed by Sean Holmes. Royal Exchange, Manchester, 5 July – 4 August (0161 833 9833).  www.filtertheatre.com

Shinfield Players (Senior Youth Group). Shinfield Players Theatre, Shinfield, Reading, 6 -7 July (01189 758 880) www.shinfieldplayers.co.uk

New
Guildford Shakespeare Company, General Theatre, Surrey, 12 – 22 July (01483 304 384)

Mappa Mundi & Torch Theatre.  Directed by Peter Doran.  Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, 3 – 20 October (01646 695 267). 

Adaptations

Yohangza Theatre Company.  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 30 April – 1 May (020 7401 9919).  From Seoul, South Korea.  ‘Yohangza means "voyager", and this groundbreaking company has travelled all over the world since its inception in 1997.  Their performance combines music, mime, song and dance to create an exhilarating adaptation of Shakespeare’s inventive and glittering comedy.  Focusing on the story of the four mortal lovers and spirits of the east Asian forest, Shakespeare’s characters burst onto the stage with a fresh, eastern vibrancy.’  Performed in Korean.  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival].  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Chekhov International Theatre Festival / Dmitry Krymov's Laboratory / School of Dramatic Art Theatre Production. Directed by Dmitry Krymov; Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 10 - 18 August (0844 800 1110); Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, 10 August – 2 September (0131 529 6000).  ‘From Russia comes the world premiere of Dmitry Krymov’s interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’  In Russian with English surtitles.  [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival]  http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

After the Dream (Sequel to Midsummer Night’s Dream). Hand in Hand Theatre Productions. Touring venues across the Wirral, 19 June – 1 July. www.handinhandtheatreproductions.co.uk/

Much Ado About Nothing

Compagnie Hypermobile. Directed by Clement Poiree.  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 1 – 2 June (020 7401 9919).  From Paris.  Performed in French  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Bradfordians Dramatic Society. Belcombe Court, Bradford on Avon, 20 - 23 June.  http://www.thebradfordians.com/much-ado-about-nothing-2

Heartbreak Productions. Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax, West Yorkshire, 10 July (01422 349 422)

Oxford Theatre Guild. Directed by Joseph Kenneway. Trinity College Gardens, Oxford, 10 - 21 July. www.oxfordtheatreguild.com  

Royal Shakespeare Company. Directed by Iqbal Khan. Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. 26 July - 15 September. (0844 800 1110); Noel Coward Theatre, London, 1 August – 27 October (0870 850 9175).  [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival].  www.rsc.org.uk  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Pendley Open-Air Shakespeare Festival. Pendley Manor, Tring, Hertfordshire, 7 – 11 August. www.pendleyshakespearefestival.co.uk

OUDS and Thelma Holt.  Directed by Max Gill.  Mill Studio, Guildford, 5 – 8 September (01483 44 00 00).  

Othello

Adaptations

Opera. Otello by Giuseppe Verdi. Southgate Opera. Wyllyotts Theatre, Hertfordshire, 21 - 23 June (01707 645005) www.southgateopera.co.uk

Opera. Otello by Giuseppe Verdi. Royal Opera House. Conducted by Antonio Pappino, directed by Elijah Moshinsky, 12-24 July (020 7304 4000) www.roh.org.uk

Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 5 – 6 May (020 7401 9919).  From Chicago, USA.  Performed in Hip Hop.  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

RumDoxy Theatre. Adapted by Jo Hopkins. The Space, 269 Westferry Road, London, 29 - 30 June. (020 7515 7799) 90 minute version.  http://space.org.uk.
 

Pericles

Ketterer’s Men. The Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon, 21 - 29 September. www.lizzketterertrust.com

New
RSC Amateur Ensemble.  The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 5 – 7 October (0844 800 1110). www.rsc.org.uk

Richard II

Ashtar Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 4 - 5 May (020 7401 9919).  From Ramallah, Palestine.  Performed in  Palestinian Arabic  [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

Richard III

Royal Shakespeare Company. Directed by Roxana Silbert. Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 22 March - 15 September. (0844 800 1110)www.rsc.org.uk [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival].

Shakespeare’s Globe Company.  Directed by Tim Carroll.  Mark Rylance (Richard).  Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 14 July – 13 October (020 7401 9919). [Part of Globe 2012 Theatre Season - The Play's the Thing]; Apollo Theatre, West End, 2 November 2012 – 3 February 2013 (0870 890 1101) www.shakespeares-globe.org 

Adaptations

Loyalty Binds Me by Neil Hewitt-Dudding.  Tread the Boards Theatre Company.   Kenilworth Castle, Kenilworth, 4 May (01926 852078); Studio, Artrix, Bromsgrove, 5 May (01527 577 330).  www.loyaltybindsme.co.uk

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertold Brecht.  Directed by Jonathan Church.  Henry Goodman (Arturo Ui).  Minerva Theatre, Chichester, 29 June – 28 July (01243 781312).  www.cft.org.uk

Two Roses for Richard III.  Companhia BufoMecanica.  Directed by Claudio Baltar & Fabio Ferreira. The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 7 – 12 May (0844 8001110).Roundhouse-Studio 42, The Clore West End, 18-23 May (0844 482 8008)  ‘Inspired by Shakespeare's history plays, the bloody events of the War of the Roses are vividly re-imagined in a glorious black carnival of villainy, corruption and seduction. From Brazil, Companhia BufoMecanica brings a breathtaking production, combining Shakespeare’s text with circus, multimedia, visual metaphor and aerial choreography.‘

Romeo and Juliet

Rugby Theatre.  Directed by Robert Sloan.  Rugby Theatre, Rugby, 12 – 19 May (01788 541 234). www.rugbytheatre.co.uk

Grupo Galpao. Directed by Gabriel Villela. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 19 – 20 May (020 7401 9919).  From Brazil. Performed in  Brazilian Portuguese. [Part of the Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

The Rose Theatre, Bankside. 5 – 30 June (020 7261 9565). www.rosetheatre.org.uk.

Chapterhouse. St Andrews Castle, St Andrews, 9 June; Hopetoun House, South Queensferry, 10 June; Hardwick Park, Co Durham, 15 June; Thorp Perrow, Bedale, North Yorkshire, 16 June; Belsay Hall, Northumberland, 17 June; Aberglasney Gardens, Carmarthenshire, 19 June; Hampton Court, Leominster, 22 June; Erddig, Wrexham, 23 June; Creswell Craggs, Nottinghamshire, 29 June; Ashby de la Zouch Castle, Leicestershire, 30 June; Cowdray Ruins, Midhurst, West Sussex, 4 July; Helmsley Castle, Helmsley, 12 July; Warkworth Castle, Northumberland, 13 June; Mapledurham House, Reading, 19 July; Shorbook Park, Credition, 20 July; Coughton Court, Warwickshire, 21 July; Newark Castle, Newark, 22 July; Solitude Park, Banbridge, Co Down, NI, 27 July; Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, NI, 28 July; Oldbridge, Drogheda, Co Meath, 4 August;  Kilmokea Gardens, Campile, Co Wexford, 5 August;  Catthorpe Manor, Warwickshire/Leics, 12 August; Oystermouth Castle, Swansea, 16 August; Gregynog Hall, Newtown, Powys; 17 August; Chiddingstone Castle, Edenbridge, 24 August; Exbury Gardens, Southampton, 25 August; Manor House Hotel, Wiltshire, 27 August.  www.chapterhouse.org

Bancroft Players and Big Spirit. Directed by Rory Reynolds. Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin, 2 – 7 July (01462 455 166) http://www.queenmothertheatre.org.uk/whatson/event_100_romeo_and_juliet.html

Pendley Open-Air Shakespeare Festival. Pendley Manor, Tring, Hertfordshire, 31 July – 4 August. www.pendleyshakespearefestival.co.uk

Adaptations

Romeo & Juliet in Baghdad.  Baghdad Iraqi Theatre.  Directed by Monadhil Daood.  The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 26 April – 5 May (0844 800 1110); Riverside Studios, 28 – 30 June (020 8237 1111).  ‘This iconic play finds fresh purchase in the soil of contemporary Iraq, a country where sectarian strife between Sunni and Shia, ignited and fuelled from outside, has left the population exhausted by a cycle of violence and revenge. Baghdad's Iraqi Theatre Company create a version of Romeo and Juliet for a new generation, infused with Iraq's rich traditions of poetry, music and ritual. London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) - World Shakespeare Festival)’  [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival] 

Star-Cross’d by Ian Kershaw.  Oldham Coliseum.  Directed by Kevin Shaw.  Alexandra Park, Oldham, 12 – 22 July (tickets from Oldham Coliseum on 0161 624 2829) ‘Robbie O, a typical tracksuit wearing Oldham lad, and Judy, a beautiful Bengali student of Oldham College, come from very different backgrounds and live very different lives.  When the star-crossed pair meets and fall in love, their relationship is faced with conflict from all sides. This summer Oldham Coliseum moves into Alexandra Park for the company's first ever open air theatre production, the World Premiere of Star-Cross'd - Oldham's very own take on Romeo and Juliet. The traditional version of Romeo and Juliet ends in inevitable tragedy - but in Oldham we do things differently. Prepare for a few surprises thanks to the Oldham Theatre Workshop, a variety of dance companies, a brass band, a sprinkle of magic and a whole lotta love. Star-Cross'd is performed promenade style, moving around Oldham's beautiful park. So pack a picnic, some comfortable shoes and a plastic mac (just in case), and join us for what promises to be the outdoor event of the year.’ http://coliseum.org.uk/  

A Tender Thing by Ben Power. Directed by Helena Kaut-Howson. Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 27 September - 20 October. (0844 800 1110) www.rsc.org.uk. [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival].

West Side Story. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by Arthur Laurents. Directed by Joe Martin and Kelle Wood. Blackpool Grand Theatre, Blackpool, 5 – 9 June, (0125 290 190).

West Side Story. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by Arthur Laurents. Directed and choreographed by Will Tuckett. A Sage Gateshead Production in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stages. The Sage, Gateshead, 4 - 7 July. (0191 443 4661). www.rsc.org.uk or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk   [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival].

New
West Side Story. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by Arthur Laurents.  RicNic Productions. Pegasus Theatre, Oxford, 29 August – 1 September (01865 722 851).  http://ricnic.org.uk/

_{The Taming of the Shrew}

New
New Rep Theatre Company. Directed by Graham Hubbard. St Leonard's Church
Shoreditch High St, London, 10 - 27 May. Tickets on the door or from www.ticketweb.co.uk. www.thenewrepcompany.co.uk.

The Proteans. Directed by Mary Swan, The Walled Garden, Down Grange, Basingstoke, 21 – 30 June (01256 418 318) www.Proteustheatre.com

New
Sprite Productions. Ripley Castle, Walled Gardens, Ripley, 20 June – 8 July (01423 770 632). www.spriteproductions.co.uk

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Company.  Directed by Toby Frow.  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 23 June – 13 October (020 7401 9919).  Part of Globe 2012 Theatre Season - The Play's the Thing.  www.shakespeares-globe.org

Adaptation

Updated
Theatre Wallay.  Directed by Navid Shahzad.  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 25 – 26 May (020 7401 9919); The North Wall, Oxford, 21 – 22 May (1865319 450).  ‘From Pakistan.  Theatre Wallay presents a new production of The Taming of the Shrew, starring the Lahore screen and stage star Nadia Jamil as Katherine.  Navid Shahzad’s production, rich in colour and energy, explores the difficulties encountered by modern Pakistani women.  With live singers and musicians, a thrilling bhangra jig rounds off this uplifting version of the first romcom.  The music, colours and speech of Lahore - one of the great bustling metropolises of south Asia - will infuse this production of Shakespeare's comedy. Performed in Urdu.’  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival] www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Kiss Me, Kate.  Music and lyrics by Cole Porter Book by Sam and Bella Spewack.  Directed by Trevor Nunn.  Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, 18 June – 1 September (01243 781312).  www.cft.org.uk

The Tempest

Royal Shakespeare Company. Directed by David Farr. Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 30 March - 7 October. (0844 800 1110). www.rsc.org.uk. 

Dhaka Theatre.  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 7 – 8 May (020 7401 9919).  ‘From Dhaka, Bangladesh. Performed in Bangla/Bengali.’  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival].

Dundee Rep Ensemble. Dundee Repertory Theatre, 6 – 23 June (01382 223 530) www.dundeerep.co.uk

Roundhouse Theatre Company Directed by Michael Boyd. Roundhouse Theatre., 9 June – 5 July (0844 482 8008)

MadCap Theatre Productions.  Number 8 Community Arts Centre, Pershore, 12 May(01386 555 488); MAC Theatre, Birmingham, 2 June  (0121 446 3232); The Attic at Cox's Yard, Stratford-upon-Avon, 8 and 10 June  (01787 299 011); The Theatre on the Steps, Bridgnorth, 30 June (01746 763 257); The Artrix, Bromsgrove, 7 July (01527 577 330); Croft Castle, Herefordshire, 14 July (01568 782 120);
Playhouse Theatre, Cheltenham, 20 – 21 July (01242 522 852). http://madcaptheatreproductions.co.uk/

Theatre Royal Bath.  Directed by Adrian Noble.  Theatre Royal, Bath, 23 August – 8 September (01225 448 844).  www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Adaptations

Ballet. Ballet Cymru, Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, 8 May (01438 363200); Northcott Theatre, Exeter, 22 June (01392 493493), http://www.welshballet.co.uk/

The Tempest (Abridged Version) Congleton Amateur Youth Theatre, Darenside Theatre, Cheshire, 10 – 12 May (01260 277 502)

Timon of Athens

Bremer Shakespeare Company.  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 31 May – 1 June (020 7401 9919).  ‘From Bremer. Performed in German.’  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival]  www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk 

National Theatre. Directed by Nicholas Hytner. Olivier (National Theatre), London, 10 July – 18 September (020 7452 3000). www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/

Titus Andronicus

New
Hiraeth Artistic Productions.  Directed by Zoe Ford.  Etcetera Theatre, London, 8 – 27 May (020 7482 4857).  www.hiraeth-theatre.co.uk/

Adaptation

Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio.  Directed by Tang Shu-wing.  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 3 – 4 May 2012 (020 7401 9919).  ‘From Hong Kong. The text of the play is delivered through the voice, facial expression, movements, breathing, spatial displacement and immobility to create a singular aesthetic somewhere between Western realism and Asian stylisation.  Strongly physical and minimalist, the Globe version in 2012 will at the same time contain a unique display of the hybrid cultural peculiarity of Hong Kong.  Performed in Cantonese.’  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival] www.shakespeares-globe.org or www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

Troilus and Cressida

Royal Shakespeare Company and The Wooster Group.  Directed by Rupert Goold and Elizabeth LeCompte.  Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 3 – 18 August (0844 8001110).  [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival 2012]  www.rsc.org.uk

Twelfth Night

Royal Shakespeare Company.  Directed by David Farr.  Jonathan Slinger (Malvolio).  Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 8 March – 15 May 2012 (0844 800 1110); Roundhouse, London, 5 June – 5 July 2012 (0844 482 8008); Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 12 July – 6 October 2012 (0844 800 1110).  [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival]  www.rsc.org.uk

Everyman Open Air Festival. Directed by Simon West. St. Fagan’s Natural History Museum, Cardiff, 25 July – 4 August (029 2057 3500) www.everymanfestival.co.uk

Shakespeare’s Globe Company.  Directed by Tim Carroll.  Mark Rylance (Olivia).  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 22 September – 14 October (020 7401 9919). [Part of Globe 2012 Theatre Season - The Play's the Thing.] www.shakespeares-globe.org

Directed by Tim Carroll.  Mark Rylance (Olivia). Apollo Theatre, West End, London. 2 November – 3 February 2013 (0870 890 1101)

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Vakomana Vaviri ve Zimbabwe.  Two Gents Productions.  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 9 – 10 May (020 7401 9919).  ‘From Zimbabwe.  Vakomana Vaviri ve Zimbabwe, a stunning African version of Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, is a two-man Zimbabwean riot of love, friendship and betrayal.  From Verona to Milan, via Harare and Bulawayo, two great friends, Valentine and Proteus, vie for the love of the same woman. In a broad, loud, triumphantly energetic 'township' style the two actors slip into all of the play's fifteen characters - from amorous suitors to sullen daughters, depressed servants and even a dog.  Performed in Shona.’  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival] 

The Brentwood Shakespeare Company. Brentwood Theatre, Brentwood, 23 – 26 May (01277 200 305) www.brentwood-theatre.co.uk

The Two Noble Kinsmen

The Winter’s Tale

Propeller Theatre.  Directed by Edward Hall.  Propeller. The Watermill Theatre, Newbury, 3 – 21 April (01635 46044); Theatre Royal, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 24 – 28 April (08448 112121); Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, 1 – 5 May (02476 256431); Theatre Royal, Norwich, 8 – 12 May (01603 630000); Theatre Royal, Plymouth, 15 – 19 May (01752 267222); Hampstead Theatre, London, 4 – 21 July (020 7722 9301).  Touring with Henry V until August.  Other touring dates in UK and abroad to be confirmed at a later date.  www.propeller.org.uk

Renegade Theatre.  Directed by Wole Oguntokun.  Shakespeare’s Globe, London, 24 – 25 May (020 7401 9919).  ‘From Lagos, Nigeria.  Yoruba folk tales inform this magical new production of Shakespeare’s late masterpiece. Performed in Yoruba.’  [Part of Globe to Globe 2012 - World Shakespeare Festival] www.shakespeares-globe.org  or http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk

New
Network Theatre Company. Network Theatre, Waterloo, London, 14 – 23 June. www.networktheatre.org

Poems and Apocrypha

The Rape of Lucrece. Makin Projects Production.  Gerard Logan, directed by Gareth Armstrong. Yvonne Arnaud Theatre (Mill Studio), Surrey 14 – 16 June (01483 440 000); Rose Theatre, Bankside 7-12 August. www.therapeoflucrece.co.uk.

Venus and Adonis. Rose Theatre. Directed by David Pearce. 2-25 August. (020 7261 9565). www.rosetheatre.org.uk

Miscellaneous
(in alphabetical order)

Aspects of Love in Shakespeare. The King’s Lynn Players. The Arts Centre, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, 18 – 19 May (01553 764 864). www.kingslynnplayers.co.uk [Part of RSC Open Stages]

Baba Shakespeare by Emmaline Winterbotham.  Directed by Emmaline Winterbotham.  Choreograped by Shobna Gulati.  Tower Theatre.  Arcola Tent, London, 17 April – 2 May (020 7503 1646). ‘Loosely based on the real-life experiences of actress Felicity Kendal and her family, the story follows a troupe of British theatre players as they travel across 1960s India performing their particular brand of Shakespeare against the backdrop of a newly emerging nation; and of the tangled love affair which ensues between a young English actress, a rich Indian playboy, and a glamorous Bollywood star. Baba Shakespeare offers a new twist on the themes of cultural clash and identity by exploring the 1960s story through the lens of a contemporary Indian film director, interweaving it with the colour and spectacle of music and dance.’ [Part of the RSC Open Stages]  www.towertheatre.org.uk

Brush Up Your Shakespeare.  Luxulyan Amateur Dramatic Society.  Luxulyan Village Hall, Luxulyan, 16 – 19 May (01726 850515).  ‘Part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stages project, this production has been written by our Director about "Suzanna" a 21st century school girl on a journey of discovery about the great Bard’s work and it incorporates some of Shakespeare's most famous characters.  It is entertaining and a great introduction to the variety of Shakespeare’s work.  This is a first for LADS having never attempted Shakespeare before, a very exciting collaborative project.’ 

Codpieces by Perry Pontac.  Theatre Proteus.  Directed by Maggie Lilley.  Mill Studio, Guildford, 11 – 12 May (01483 440 000).  ‘An homage to William Shakespeare, Codpieces lovingly but wickedly parodies the great writer thrice over. With the language as exuberant as the fantasy, Pontac leads us on a hilarious journey of exploration.  If Romeo and Juliet did not die, how did their eternal passion survive 30 years on?  What really happened to the State of Denmark after Hamlet's death?  What made Prince Lear sow the seeds of his own demise and the Earl of Kent admits to being a transvestite?  Three riotously funny parodies showcase the quality of writing and intelligence of the playwright.’ http://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/production/codpieces 

New
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield.  Street Theatre Company.  Directed by Karen Trevis.  Strode Theatre, Street, 25 – 26 May (01458 442 846)

The Dark Side of Love.  Roundhouse & the London International Festival of Theatre.  Companhia BufoMecanica  Directed by Renato Rocha.  Roundhouse, London, 25 June – 8 July (0844 482 8008).  ‘Inspired by Shakespeare's tragedies, The Dark Side of Love is a delirious and dreamlike journey into the depths of what we do for love.  Performed by a cast of teenagers in an atmospheric underground performance space beneath the Roundhouse Main Space.’  [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival and LIFT]. 

Dr. Dee (Opera) music by Damon Albarn.  Directed by Rufus Norris.  Coliseum, London, 25 June – 7 July (020 7632 8300).  ‘Doctor Dee was the archetypal Renaissance Man studying the world from astrology and alchemy to physics and philosophy. His thirst for knowledge was insatiable and, as a key advisor to Elizabeth I, he is credited with providing much of the intelligence which shaped 'the British Empire' established under her rule. Dee also dabbled in the occult and, ultimately, this fascination destroyed him. Conned by a deranged medium, Dee's career ended in disgrace and sexual scandal and he died discredited and penniless. Albarn's music is an ingenious mix of pop vocals, much of which he will perform live on-stage, with contemporary orchestral music played on 16th-century period instruments. Rufus Norris's staging presents five centuries of English history and the three realms of earth, heaven and hell.’ 

Forests inspired by the work of William Shakespeare. Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company and Barcelona Internacional Teatre production in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Directed by Calixto Bieito. Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, 31 August - 15 September.  (0121 236 4455). Performed in Catalan and English with surtitles. www.rsc.org.uk.

Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) by Ann-Marie MacDonald. Welsh Church Hall, Leytonstone, London, 21 – 29 September. [Part of the RSC Open Stages Festival] Constance Ledbelly, a drab and dusty academic, deciphers a cryptic manuscript she believes to be the original source for Othello and Romeo and Juliet. She is transported into the plays themselves, visits Juliet and Desdemona, has a hand in saving them from the deaths the Bard had planned for them, and finds out what these women are about. www.woodhouseplayers.co.uk

In a Pickle. Oily Cart Theatre Company. Swan Room, Stratford-upon-Avon, 23 May - 17 June. (0844 800 1110) 'Oily Cart go on a voyage of discovery with their young audiences through the landscapes of Shakespeare’s imagination and the music of his language.
Renowned for their ‘wonderlands’, the company creates a total theatre experience for children aged 2 – 4, their families and friends. Multi-talented performers, live music, enchanting visuals, intriguing textures and delightful odours come together to create a magical introduction to the theatre.' www.rsc.org.uk [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival].

Love’s Labour by Jacquie Penrose. The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre, Havant, 7 – 9 June (023 9247 2700). The play takes a look beyond the 'happy endings' of three of Shakespeare's comedies, and imagines what these marriages might be like after the celebrations are over and the curtain is down. http://www.benchtheatre.org.uk/

A Soldier In Every Son - An Aztec Trilogy by Luis Mario Moncada. Compañía Nacional de Teatro de México and Royal Shakespeare Company Co-production. Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 29 June - 28 July. (0844 800 1110). 'Passion, power and intrigue play out in this epic political thriller which charts the history of an ancient civilisation. Spanning a century and based on true events chronicled in the Aztec codices, A Soldier In Every Son – An Aztec Trilogy, unfolds in three parts closely inspired by Shakespeare’s history plays.
 www.rsc.org.uk. [Part of the World Shakespeare Festival].

Data compiled by Kelley Costigan, Jami Rogers and Margaret Roper.