David Tennant To Host Live RSC Broadcast On BBC Two To Commemorate Shakespeare Anniversary



David Tennant will host a live broadcast from the stage of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on 23rd April 2016 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. The event will be broadcast on BBC Two as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's celebration of Shakespeare's legacy as the world's most famous playwright.

As previously announced, in January 2016 David will also be involved in 'King and Country', the Great Cycle of Shakepeare's Kings' plays at the Barbican Theatre, reprising his award-winning performance as King Richard as Gregory Doran's productions of Richard II, Henry IV Parts I & II, and Henry V play in repertoire for the first time (Click here for details).

The RSC productions of the four history will also play at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2016 though dates and cast details have not yet been confirmed.

The live broadcast is just one of the highlights for 2016 announced today by the RSC in a year of worldwide celebration. Other events on the programme for 2016 include:

Stratford-upon-Avon
  • A family-friendly, interactive exhibition explores the history of theatre in Stratford, revealing the people and stories behind the productions 
  • The Other Place studio theatre reopens for performances and rehearsals 
  • Costume Store tours – public tours of the RSC’s world-renowned costume store begin 

London 
  • 'RSC Shakespeare on Film', celebrating classic productions from the archives with Barbican Cinemas

Across the UK
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play for the Nation tours every UK nation and region, working with 13 partner theatres. Amateur companies from each area join the core cast to play Bottom and the Mechanicals, alongside local school children playing Titania's fairy train.
  • Dream Team 2016 – Every UK school is invited to stage their own production of A Midsummer Night's Dream using a one-hour edit of the play, a specially-composed score and other supporting resources provided for free by the RSC.
  • In collaboration with publishers VINTAGE Hogarth Shakespeare, an exploration of how Shakespeare continues to be reimagined through RSC productions and Hogarth Shakespeare's new commissions – launching with Jeanette Winterson's and Howard Jacobson's books inspired by The Winter's Tale and The Merchant of Venice.

Worldwide
  • The RSC travels East, touring the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing, Shanghai Grand Theatre and Hong Kong Arts Festival with Henry IV Parts I & II and Henry V. 
  • A ten-year cultural exchange begins with translations of Chinese classics into English and performance-based translations of Shakespeare's plays into Chinese
  • Working together with the British Council on a new education publication for Chinese and UK schools
  • Brooklyn Academy of Music hosts all four History plays, in collaboration with The Ohio State University



Keep an eye on the RSC Updates page for further news


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