Following an absence of almost ten years, one of the world’s most prestigious theatre companies, The Royal Shakespeare Company, is returning to Cardiff’s New Theatre from Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 November. Nancy Meckler’s critically acclaimed production of Shakespeare’s earliest comedy, The Comedy of Errors, plays at the New for just one week only as part of a selective UK tour.A story of mistaken identity and lost family members, The Comedy of Errors is one of Shakespeare’s most accessible and funniest plays. It centres on two pairs of twins called Antipholus and Dromio, and the assorted mix ups, romances and farce that come with a classic Shakespeare tale. The last time the RSC visited the New Theatre was in 1998 when Robert Lindsay played to packed houses as Richard III. Now the company return with The Comedy of Errors, the play that the RSC made their New Theatre debut with in 1962. Theatre Manager Susan Lewis is delighted the RSC are returning to the venue: “Everyone at the New is extremely excited that we are once again playing host to one of Britain’s greatest theatre companies. It’s an honour that the New can provide a platform for the RSC to return to the Welsh capital.” The impressive ensemble cast includes Siobhan Redmond (The Smoking Room and Janice Taylor in Holby City) as the melodramatic Adriana and real life brothers Jason Merrells (Gavin in Cutting It, Jack Rimmer in Waterloo Road) and Simon Merrells (Griggs in London’s Burning). This critically acclaimed production from Nancy Meckler, the first woman to direct a show at the South Bank’s National Theatre, originally opened in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2005 and subsequently transferred to London’s West End. As the Artistic Director of Shared Experience Company, Nancy is famed for producing fresh, fun and lively adaptations of classic texts, such as Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children and Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Her production sets The Comedy of Errors in a bustling carnival of colour and music. Nancy’s unique staging includes puppetry, madcap songs and music performed by a live band. The humour ranges from witty word play to broad slapstick and farce. The costumes are a fantastical hybrid of Dickens and Alice in Wonderland. Nancy says this is to ensure anyone can enjoy the work of Shakespeare: “I like to believe every show that I direct appeals right across the board. I feel that’s true with The Comedy of Errors. There’s something for everybody, young and old, within the production. It’s very accessible in terms of the storyline and language and a lot of the action is played out in a physical style so is even easier to follow. It would be a very good introduction for someone who has never seen a Shakespeare play before.” The Comedy of Errors New Theatre, Cardiff Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 November Evenings 7.30pm; Thursday & Saturday Matinees 2.30pm Tickets range from £7 - £26 Box Office: 029 2087 8889 Book Online*: www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk *online sales are subject to a small transaction charge |
| New Theatre Cardiff web site: www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk |
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Thursday, November 1, 2007 |
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