More top names talking Shakespeare at the RSC

Published: 21 August 2020
Reporter: Steve Orme

Simon Russell Beale as Prospero in The Tempest Credit: Topher McGrillis
Antony Sher as King Lear Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Paterson Joseph as Brutus (right) and Cyril Nri as Caius Cassius in Julius Caesar Credit: Kwame Lestrade

Antony Sher, David Suchet, Juliet Stevenson and Paterson Joseph are the latest to take part in Talking Shakespeare, an online conversation series led by Royal Shakespeare Company artistic director Gregory Doran.

In the series, actors who have performed at the RSC discuss their experience of performing Shakespeare. Other contributors have included Judi Dench, Ray Fearon, Harriet Walter, Patrick Stewart, Alexandra Gilbreath and David Tennant.

Adjoa Andoh is the guest on Monday 24 August. Known for appearing on the BBC's long-running medical drama Casualty as sister Colette Griffiths, she played the political realist and manipulator Ulysses in the RSC’s 2018 production of Troilus and Cressida. She took the title role in Richard II at the Sam Wanamaker Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe in 2019.

Simon Russell Beale will be Talking Shakespeare on 31 August. Described by the BTG’s Philip Fisher as “possibly the greatest Shakespearean actor of his day”, Beale returned to the RSC in 2016 after more than 20 years, turning in an “incomparable” performance as Prospero in The Tempest.

Regarded as one of Britain’s leading actors, Antony Sher will be speaking with Doran on Monday 7 September. His most recent Shakespearean role with the RSC was the title role of King Lear in 2016. He was knighted in 2000 for his services to acting and writing.

David Suchet will be interviewed on 14 September. Although best known for his role as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, he became a member of the RSC in 1973 and performed more than 30 roles including Bolingbroke in Richard II, Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Orlando in As You Like It and the title role in Macbeth.

The following week, Juliet Stevenson will be Talking Shakespeare. She made her RSC debut as Iras in Peter Brook's Antony and Cleopatra in 1978. She went on to perform in Henry IV, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Measure for Measure, Troilus and Cressida and As You Like It. Her most recent Shakespearean role was as Gertrude in Rupert Goold’s Hamlet at the Almeida in 2017.

Paterson Joseph will be in conversation on 28 September. He understudied Simon Russell Beale as the King of Navarre in Terry Hands's 1990 production of Love's Labour's Lost and Ralph Fiennes as Troilus in Sam Mendes's production of Troilus and Cressida. When Fiennes left the RSC in August 1991, Joseph played Troilus until the production closed in January 1992. Most recently for the RSC, Joseph played Brutus in Julius Caesar, part of the World Shakespeare Festival in 2012.

The live, online series runs weekly on Mondays from 5 until 6PM and is open to subscribers, members and patrons of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Events are free to attend but with a suggested donation of £10 per session. All donations go towards the Keep Your RSC campaign to help secure the company’s future.

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