The RSC has announced a new Winter Season at the Barbican Theatre in London for 2024 and 2025.
Two of its productions will transfer from Stratford-upon-Avon to the Barbican, including their acclaimed production of The Buddha of Suburbia, in co-production with Wise Children.
Based on the novel by Hanif Kureishi, and adapted for the stage by Wise Children’s Emma Rice with Hanif Kureishi, The Buddha of Suburbia will run at the Barbican on 22 October to 16 November 2024.
The Buddha of Suburbia garnered great reviews from the critics when it opened at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon last month.
The creative team also includes Set Designer Rachana Jadhav; Costume Designer Vicki Mortimer; Sound and Video Designer Simon Baker; Lighting Designer Jai Morjaria; Composer Niraj Chag; Choreographer and Intimacy Co-ordinator Etta Murfitt; Fight Director Kev McCurdy; and Casting Director Matthew Dewsbury CDG.
Also transferring to London, as part of the RSC’s Winter Season at the Barbican, is director Eleanor Rhode’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Mathew Baynton as Bottom.
This hilarious production of Shakespeare’s captivating comedy transports audiences from deepest midwinter to the most magical of midsummer nights.
The creative team for the production also includes Set and Costume Designer Lucy Osborne; Illusion Director and Designer John Bulleid; Lighting Designer Matt Daw; Composer Will Gregory; Sound Designer Pete Malkin; Movement Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster; Fight and Intimacy Directors Rachel Bown-Williams and Ruth Cooper-Brown; and Casting Director Matthew Dewsbury CDG.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream will run at the Barbican from 3 December 2024 to 18 January 2025.
Casting for both shows is to be confirmed.
The RSC’s Co-Artistic Directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans said in a joint statement: “We’re so proud that these two productions, led by two brilliant directors, will play the Barbican stage later this year. Together, they encapsulate one of our core missions at the RSC: to bring people together to experience new plays side-by-side with those of our house playwright, to deepen our understanding of ourselves, each other and the world around us, and bring joy. Both these productions are naughty, soulful and entertaining, and we can’t wait to share them with audiences in the capital. Meanwhile, in Stratford, we’re looking forward to continuing our inaugural Stratford season with a host of inspiring artists.”
There’s no news on a West End transfer of their recent production of Love’s Labour’s Lost, which starred Bridgerton actor Luke Thompson (A Little Life) as Berowne, in a new modern production directed by Emily Burns.
Evans and Harvey announced their first RSC season back in January, which includes their current new production of The Merry Wives of Windsor starring Samantha Spiro, directed by Blanche McIntyre. Check out photos here.
Coming up at the RSC is political thriller Kyoto from 18 June 2024 about the Kyoto climate change protocol, written by Joe Robertson and Joe Murphy, co-directed by Justin Martin and Stephen Daldry, and co-produced with Good Chance Theatre; a revival of Sheridan’s The School for Scandal from 2 July 2024 is directed by Tinuke Craig; a new production of Pericles from 26 July 2024 in the Swan Theatre stars Alfred Enoch, directed by RSC co-artistic director Tamara Harvey; The New Real by David Edgar; a new production of Othello directed by Tim Carroll and starring John Douglas Thompson, Will Keen and Juliet Rylance; The Red Shoes directed by Kimberley Rampersad; a Christmas production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night; Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II starring Daniel Evans and directed by Daniel Raggett; and a new production of Hamlet directed by Rupert Goold, starring Luke Thallon.
Currently playing in London is the RSC’s production of English by Sanaz Toossi, at the Kiln Theatre until the 6 July. Also, long-running West End show Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre; and the RSC’s production of My Neighbour Totoro is heading to the West End’s Gillian Lynne theatre next year, from March 2025.
Currently playing at the Barbican Theatre is Bartlett Sher’s revival of classic Cole Porter musical Kiss Me, Kate starring Adrian Dunbar and Stephanie J Block, until 14 September 2024.
More about tickets to The Buddha of Suburbia at the Barbican Theatre London
More about tickets to A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Barbican Theatre London
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