The theatre has confirmed details of its upcoming Summer season.
It has been announced that the Shakespeare’s Globe will take audiences through Shakespeare’s history plays, with the year long journey beginning with Richard II, opening the 22nd February in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
The Summer season will continue in the Globe Theatre with productions of Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, and Henry V. The season also includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Ben Jonson’s Bartholomew Fair, and the return of 2018’s As You Like It.
Meanwhile, the Robin Hood Tales will continue the theatre’s Read Not Dead series this year, and festivals throughout the summer include Women & Power and Poland is Hamlet.
It has also been announced this year’s Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank production will be Romeo and Juliet, opening on 28 February, with 20,000 free tickets available to state secondary schools. The Shakespeare’s Globe Touring Ensemble will once again present a trio of plays for the audience to choose from: The Comedy of Errors, Pericles, and Twelfth Night.
Casting for Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, and Henry V will comprise of the new resident Globe Ensemble. The Globe Ensemble includes Tayo Akinbode, Sarah Amankwah, Philip Arditti, Sarah Bedi, Nina Bowers, Jonathan Broadbent, Leaphia Darko, Steffan Donnelly, Federay Holmes, John Leader, Sophie Russell, Oliver Ryan, Helen Schlesinger, Michelle Terry, Rob Walker, Siân Williams, and Jessica Worrall. Sarah Bedi and Federay Holmes will direct, and Michelle Terry will play Hotspur in Henry IV Part 1. Helen Schlesinger will play Falstaff (Henry IV Part 1 & 2), and Sarah Amankwah will play Hal in Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, and the titular role in Henry V.
The Merry Wives of Windsor will open the 17th May, directed by Nicole Charles and Elle While. The production will be broadcast live into cinemas on Thursday 20 June. Nicole Charles was most recently at the Globe, directing Emilia, which transfers to the West End from 8 March – 15 June this year.
Opening 28 June, A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be directed by Sean Holmes. Sean Holmes is Associate Artistic Director. He recently announced his departure from the Lyric Hammersmith after almost a decade as Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive.
Finally, opening 23rd August, Bartholomew Fair, Ben Jonson’s raucous comedy on London life, will be directed by Blanche McIntyre. Blanche returns to the Globe, having most recently directed The Winter’s Tale (2018). She has previously directed The Comedy of Errors (2014) and As You Like It (2015) at the Globe.
For more information about the Shakespeare’s Globe Summer season visit: http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/