News

Hamlet

5th October 2011

RSC tour young people’s Shakespeare production of Hamlet to Liverpool schools ahead of Playhouse date.

The Royal Shakespeare Company will tour a Young People’s Shakespeare (YPS) production of Hamlet to schools across Liverpool from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 October. The tour heralds a new way of reaching audiences who may not normally have access to the RSC’s work: in schools the daytime performances will be for pupils, with evening performances aimed at their families and the local community. On Friday 14 October there will be two matinée performances at the Playhouse available for the general public to book tickets.

Since September 2010, the Everyman and Playhouse have run a Unique Partnership scheme with local schools and colleges. These Unique Partners benefit from a personal, strategic and bespoke relationship with the theatres through workshops, talks and insight. The visit of the RSC with Hamlet to some of these partner schools is just one way in which theatre is delivering exciting opportunities and experiences through the Unique Partnerships.

The YPS Hamlet has been adapted by Tarell Alvin McCraney and Bijan Shebani and directed by Tarell. The pair also joined forces on The Brothers Size, a Young Vic touring production that visited the Everyman in 2007. This 70 minute version of Hamlet is performed using Shakespeare’s original text and without interval. Many of the daytime performances of the play will be followed by a schools’ workshop led by the actors, and most other performances will be accompanied by a Q and A with the company.

This production of Hamlet opened in 2010, and has been seen by audiences in Stratford-upon-Avon, Newcastle and in schools in outer London boroughs which are part of the RSC’s 400 strong Learning and Performance Network (LPN). Prior to this tour, the show will be performed as part of the RSC’s residency in New York this summer.

Dharmesh Patel takes on the title role of Hamlet, with Debbie Korley as Ophelia. The cast of nine also includes: Dyfan Dwyfor (Laertes/Marcellus/Rosencrantz), Gruffudd Glyn (Barnardo/Guildernstern/Osric), Peter Peverley (Polonius/1st Sailor/Priest/Pirate), Patrick Romer (Ghost/A Player/Pirate), David Rubin (Claudius), Simone Saunders (Horatio) and Kirsty Woodward (Gertrude/A Player).

Jacqui O’Hanlon, RSC Director of Education, said: “The Young People’s Shakespeare performance series lives out the principles of our Stand Up For Shakespeare manifesto by creating opportunities for children and young people to see Shakespeare live, but this time in their own back yard.”

Joining Tarrell on the creative team are Michael Fentiman (Associate Director), Jean Chan (Designer), Tom Piper (Associate Designer) and Terry King (Fight Director).

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