Isobel McArthur is to adapt and direct The Fair Maid of the West for the Royal Shakespeare Company which will run in the Swan Theatre, Stratford at Christmas 2023.
McArthur’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) won the Olivier award for best comedy in 2022.
The Fair Maid of the West tells the story of Liz Bridges, a landlady who “pacifies the vexed, enlightens the perplexed and always knows who's next”. Thomas Heywood’s “Elizabethan romp will be a celebratory, music-filled, ensemble comedy about the life-saving powers of community, compromise and compassion”.
McArthur said, “one thing that excited me about staging a version of The Fair Maid of The West is how much of the action takes places in pubs. So often in portside public houses a carousel of remarkable eccentrics pass through the harbours and doorways, leaving lasting impressions on all those bearing witness. Of course, all are in search of something: shelter, sustenance, company, often love.
“With this in mind, we knew we needed a cast who could bring great humour and heart, including brilliantly funny multi-rollers with keen dramaturgical minds, possessing a great facility for both language and music. Our whole ensemble need to be able to sing, play multiple musical instruments, move beautifully through Ana Inés Jabares Pita’s set and truly take over the Swan Theatre space with their luminescent, celebratory energy.”
Amber James will play Liz Bridges. Philip Labey will make his RSC debut as Spencer while Richard Katz will return to the company for the 13th time. Completing the cast are Tom Babbage, Aruhan Galieva, Marc Giro, Melissa Lowe, William Pennington, David Rankine, Emmy Stonelake, Christina Tedders and Matthew Woodyatt.
Lighting will be by Sinéad McKenna, music by Michael John McCarthy, sound by Niamh Gaffney, movement by Emily Jane Boyle, dramaturgy by Pippa Hill, fights by Claire Llewellyn and casting by Martin Poile.
The Fair Maid of the West will run in the Swan from Saturday 2 December until Sunday 14 January 2024.