Following a successful first season at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe has announced the second season for its candlelit theatre.
‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE
The second season of indoor theatre in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse will open and close with plays by John Ford. His infamous tale of incestuous lust and obsessive revenge, ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore, opens on 23 October 2014.
THE BROKEN HEART
The Broken Heart – another searching exploration of the darkest recesses of the human psyche – will run from 12 March to 18 April 2015.
THE CHANGELING
Completing the trio of classic Jacobean tragedies, Middleton’s ferocious tale of madness and passion The Changeling will run from 15 January to 1 March 2015.
REVIVALS
Two stellar productions from the first season will be revived: Adele Thomas’s hilarious and joyful The Knight of the Burning Pestle and Cavalli’s L’Ormindo, a revival of the ground-breaking collaboration between Shakespeare’s Globe and The Royal Opera. The former, which will run across Christmas from 11 December 2014 to 11 January 2015, will again star Pauline McLynn as the Citizen’s Wife. Kasper Holten’s exquisite production of L’Ormindo, a smash hit that won unanimous rave reviews in March this year, returns from 3 February to 5 March 2015.
FARINELLI AND THE KING
Between 11 February and 7 March, the Playhouse will host the world premiere of Claire van Kampen’s new play with music, Farinelli and the King. Set in eighteen-century Spain and Italy, it tells the true story of Farinelli, the world’s most famous castrato, and his decision to trade fame and fortune for a live of servitude at the court of King Philip V. Replete with beautiful arias originally sung by Farinelli, this production promises to be a feast for the ears and eyes.
DIDO, QUEEN OF CARTHAGE
The Globe Young Players, a company of talented 12-16-year-olds who train with the Globe’s resident experts in the craft and practice of early modern drama, will present Marlowe’s Dido, Queen of Carthage. An exploration of the tragic antagonisms that arise when public duty and private passions collide, this production will be the second outing for the Players following their staging of The Malcontent in April, and will play six performances only.
Although the main theatre season in the Playhouse does not open until 23 October, events continue throughout the summer.
OMEROS
From Saturday 31 May to Monday 9 June, the Playhouse will host Nobel Prize-winning poet and author Derek Walcott’s new stage adaptation of his 1990 epic poem Omeros, starring Joseph Marcell. Joseph is best known for his long-standing role as Geoffrey in the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He is currently starring in the Globe’s touring production of King Lear for the second year running and has worked extensively with the Globe and the RSC over the course of his 37-year career.
THOMAS TALLIS
From Sunday 27 July to Sunday 10 August, members of The Sixteen – one of the world’s greatest choral ensembles – will perform Thomas Tallis, a specially-commissioned piece about the life and work of the celebrated Tudor composer, written by Jessica Swale and directed by Adele Thomas. Jessica Swale made her playwrighting debut at the Globe last year with the critically-acclaimed Blue Stockings.
JULIUS CAESAR
Last but not least, on 14 July Dominic Dromgoole’s Julius Caesar (playing in the Globe Theatre from 20 June to 11 October) will enter the Playhouse for one special candlelit performance. The production stars George Irving as Caesar, Luke Thompson as Mark Antony, Katy Stephens as Calphurnia, Tom McKay as Brutus, Anthony Howell as Cassius and Catherine Bailey as Portia.
Farinelli and the King. The theatre is still pristine, tiny, womblike; the play suits the theatre and uses its intimacy to the full. Mark Rylance is superb as ever; all the other actors are excellent; William Purefoy’s singing is stunning and the music is beautiful. A magical evening, a memory to be cherished.