In the run-up to William Shakespeare’s birthday, the Royal Shakespeare Company will release the first of a series of films from new productions of Henry IV Parts I and II and will stage the first live Twitter interview by an RSC artistic director.
Henry IV Parts I and II, directed by Gregory Doran, opens in Stratford on Wednesday 16 April. It will also be broadcast live to cinemas and streamed into schools as well as touring the UK before transferring to the Barbican in London.
A series of films will provide an insight by the actors who have developed their characters since rehearsals began. The first, which is now available, is Antony Sher on Falstaff.
As part of the RSC’s celebrations for Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, Gregory Doran will be taking to Twitter to answer questions live from 10AM on Wednesday 23 April.
He will answer as many questions as possible via the RSC’s Twitter account @TheRSC for an hour. Questions can be submitted now using #AskGreg.
Throughout April primary school children across England can join the birthday celebrations by experiencing Shakespeare through the eyes of some of the world’s most prominent actors, thanks to a new toolkit which uses RSC rehearsal room techniques to unlock and explore Shakespeare’s plays.
As a result of a grant from the Department for Education, the RSC Shakespeare Toolkit for Primary Teachers has been sent to every state-maintained primary school in England.