Northern Broadsides make a welcome return to The Dukes next month for a week-long run of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale.
And among the cast of this updated version of the Shakespeare play, which runs from November 10-14, will be two faces familiar to Dukes audiences.
Russell Richardson, who recently appeared as Fagin in the Dukes outdoor version of Oliver Twist this summer, and Adam Barlow, who was Prince Charming in last year’s Christmas production of Cinderella, both feature in the large ensemble cast led by Conrad Nelson.
Conrad not only directs the production but also plays Leontes in his first stage role since his acclaimed performance as Iago opposite Lenny Henry in Othello in 2009.
The Yorkshire theatre company’s production of The Winter’s Tale begins on New Year’s Eve in 1999 as the Millennium bells ring out with hope for the new century. But a lower, ominous note underscores festivities and the characters are quickly plunged into darkness.
The ultimately beguiling love story is staged by Broadsides for the first time in their 23-year history.
You can hear Conrad Nelson talking about this production in the British Theatre Guide podcast.