Dateline 8th April, 2001
RSC's This England starts this month
This England, the RSC's epic chronological production of eight Shakespeare history plays covering five reigns and 88 years, begins on Monday 9th April and is repeated a week later, both runs in three different central London venues (the Barbican, the Pit and the Young Vic).
The plays are Richard II, Henry IV Pt.1 and Pt.2, Henry V, all three parts of Henry VI, and Richard III. As an introduction there will be a rehearsed reading of Edward III, recently attributed to Shakespeare, at the Barbican on the 9th. Essentially this is a kind of "prequel" to the This England sequence.
Four directors and 79 actors take part in the project. Playing the kings are Samuel West (Richard II), David Troughton (Henry IV), William Houston (Henry V), David Oyelowo (Henry IV) and Aidan McArdle (Richard III).
"This will be an amazing opportunity for audiences to see English history unfolding before their eyes," said Adrian Noble, "and the chance to follow the political and private lives of characters played by the same actors throughout more than one play. I think it will prove to be an incredibly exciting and thought-provoking event in theatrical history and a landmark in the RSC's own heritage."
Beatles musical off on tour
The new Beatles-related musical, All You Need Is Love, starts a short tour this week before opening in the West End on 29th May at the Queen's (previews from 21st).
The play is a love story in which a man and a women, former lovers, relive their affair to the background of over fifty Beatles songs. It opens at the Churchill in Bromley on 11th April (it is already in preview), then goes on to Edinburgh, Richmond and Stoke-on-Trent.
Woman in Black to tour again
Stepehn Mallatratt's stage version of Susan Hill's novel The Woman in Black has begun a fourth national tour in Cheltenham and will play in nine other venues before the toru ends on 9th June. The West End production is now in its twelfth year.
Mouth to Mouth to transfer
The Royal Court's premiere of Kevin Elyot's Nouth to Mouth, directed by Ian Rickson and starring Lindsay Duncan, will transfer to the Alberry on 16th May agfter a successful five week run at the Theatre Downstairs.
Starlight closes for ten days
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express will close for ten days from 7th May so that refurbishment can be carried out on the Apollo Victoria's auditorium.
Chicago on screen
It is rumoured that a film version of Kander and Ebb's Chicago is to go ahead, and will probably be shot in Toronto. There is no word yet about casting.
Extending
Now booking periods have been announced for the following: