Gregory Doran, the RSC's Artistic Director since September last year, has announced his first season which will cover the last quarter of the year and which he describes as "a prologue to a wider plan".
The plan has a five year span and the proposal is to produce all the titles in Shakespeare's canon but each one only once, starting with Doran directing the first of his Histories.
The same period includes celebrations to mark the Bard's 450th birthday and the quatercentenary of his death.
Doran's programme will take place in the new theatre whilst The Swan will be home to plays by Shakespeare's contemporaries and works which he influenced or influenced him.
In the newly created role of Deputy Artistic Director, Erica Whyman takes on responsibility for The Other Place in Stratford which is being remodelled to create a small studio space, two rehearsal rooms and a costume store. Envisioning "work with a sense of radical mischief and festivity" Whyman will oversee it as the venue for experimental and new collaborative work.
The season will start with Doran directing Richard II with David Tennant and Oliver Ford Davies which will also have a run at London's Barbican, and adaptations of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies by Mike Poulton at The Swan.
A new adaptation of JM Barrie's story by Ella Hickson, Wendy & Peter Pan, plays over Christmas and into the New Year.
The RSC continues to play abroad and tour nationally; Hamlet, As You Like It and All’s Well That Ends Well from the summer season transfer to Newcastle Theatre Royal in October.
The treasures of the RSC's costumes are celebrated with a number of exhibitions and events and the education programme has been expanded with a Matilda The Musical–inspired interactive web site, Write Here Write Now with Matilda.
In brief:
- Richard II plays from 10 October to 16 November 2013 transferring to the Barbican Theatre to play from 9 December to 25 January 2014
- Antony and Cleopatra (previously announced) plays 7 - 30 November
- Wendy & Peter Pan plays from 10 December 2013 to 2 March 2014
- Wolf Hall plays from 11 December to 29 March 2014
- Bring up the Bodies plays from 19 December to 29 March 2014
Public booking opens on 18 March 2013 for Stratford at www.rsc.org.uk and late March 2013 for the Barbican, London at www.barbican.org.uk.
Public booking opens on 15 February for the RSC Newcastle at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.