The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Rome MMXVII season continues with three of Shakespeare’s most gripping plays, Julius Caesar, Antony & Cleopatra and Titus Andronicus.
The plays expose the decadence, politics, power play and corruption of Ancient Rome, charting the decline of an empire from birth to eventual implosion.
Winners of this year’s Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award, Mars.tarrab performs the world premiere of ROLLER in The Pit. This Barbican co-production is an energy-packed performance by Rachel Mars and nat tarrab investigating female competition, ageing and power through the fast-growing sport - roller derby.
The egg theatre and Travelling Light Theatre Company's bring their festive production of Snow Mouse to The Pit in an enchanting tale for babies, the very young and their families.
Royal Shakespeare Company – Julius CaesarFri 24 Nov 2017–Sat 20 Jan 2018, Barbican Theatre
Press performance: Tue 12 Dec 2017, 1pm
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Angus Jackson directs Shakespeare’s epic political tragedy, as the race to claim the empire spirals out of control.
Caesar returns from war, an all-conquering hero, but mutiny is rumbling through the corridors of power. Although Brutus loves Caesar, he is persuaded to kill him for the greater good, and like all conspirators loses control of the consequences.
Season Director Angus Jackson steers the thrilling action of the story that continues to define all political backstabbing, with spin and betrayal turning to violence. The cast includes Andrew Woodall in the title role alongside Alex Waldmann as Brutus.
Royal Shakespeare Company – Antony & CleopatraThu 30 Nov 2017–Sat 20 Jan 2018, Barbican Theatre
Press performance: Tue 12 Dec 2017, 7pm
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One of Shakespeare’s greatest love stories, Antony & Cleopatra continues the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Rome season, picking up the story where Julius Caesar ends.
Following Caesar’s assassination, Mark Antony has reached the heights of power. Now he neglects his empire for a life of decadent seduction with his mistress, Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Torn between love and duty, his military brilliance deserts him, and his passion leads the lovers to their tragic end.
Known for his fresh and urgent interpretations of Shakespeare, Iqbal Khan directs Josette Simon and Antony Byrne in the title roles. Singer-songwriter Laura Mvula writes the music for the production.
Royal Shakespeare Company – Titus AndronicusThu 7 Dec 2017–Fri 19 Jan 2018, Barbican Theatre
Press performance: Thursday 14 December 2017, 7pm
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The decay of Rome reaches vicious depths in Shakespeare’s most brutal and bloody play. Blanche McIntyre directs the epic conclusion of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Rome season.
Titus is a ruler exhausted by war and loss. He relinquishes power but leaves Rome in disorder. Rape, cannibalism and severed body parts fill the moral void at the heart of this corrupt world.
Shakespeare’s gory revenge depicts murder as entertainment. As the body count piles up, the tragedy poses questions about the nature of sexuality, family, class and society. David Troughton leads the cast.
The Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award 2017: Mars.tarrab – ROLLER
Thu 23 Nov–Sat 2 Dec 2017, The Pit
Press performance: Fri 24 Nov 2017, 7.45pm
Full contact, female-focused, self-organising and community run – roller derby is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. Fascinated by its popularity, Rachel Mars and nat tarrab have risked life and limb to create an energy-packed performance investigating female competition, ageing and power.
The irresistible duo put their skates on in a bid to understand what roller derby can reveal about bodies, economics and belonging. Throwing off the terrible memories of school sports, they jostle with the status quo, creating their own alternative teams of diverse women to collaborate on this visual show.
Winners of this year’s Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award, their work is fuelled by curiosity, queerness, rigorous research and the smashing together of the gut-wrenching and the gleeful.
CN Lester – Transpose: Barbican
Fri 8–Sat 9 Dec 2017, The Pit
Press performance: Fri 8 Dec 2017, 7.45pm
Curated by and featuring CN Lester, activist, author and singer-songwriter, this is the second Transpose: Barbican following its successful debut here last autumn.
An illuminating theatrical journey with artists from the queer and trans communities, they share poetry, music, video art and storytelling with a revelatory quality.
New collaborators such as operatic soprano Alexandra Bork and classical pianist Nicholas Bonadies join young poet Jamie Hale whose confessional spoken word stole the hearts of the audience in 2016.
The egg and Travelling Light Theatre Company – Snow Mouse
Wed 13 – Sat 23 Dec 2017, The Pit
Press performances: Thu 14 Dec 2017, 10.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm
In Snow Mouse two friends embark on an adventure in a magical forest full of play, music and wonder in this enchanting tale for babies and the very young to enjoy with their families.
Entering The Pit, it’s as though winter has arrived, with woods covered in sparkly snow. A child runs outside but soon feels lonely. Drawn by a sound, the child finds a sleeping mouse buried under the soft white flakes. Together they explore, sliding, tumbling and laughing.
The egg theatre, based in Bath and Bristol’s Travelling Light Theatre Company
combine an endearing puppet, one performer (Frank Wurzinger), lots of giggles and a tactile set perfect for audiences to sit close to the action.
