The BBC has released more details on the live broadcast that
David Tennant will host from the stage of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre,
Stratford-upon-Avon in 2016.
The Royal Shakespeare Company joins forces with BBC TV to
host the special celebration of Shakespeare’s work and his legacy, broadcast
live from the town where Shakespeare was born, lived and died. The event will be screened live on BBC Two on Saturday, 23
April 2016 to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
David Tennant hosts a variety bill inspired by Shakespeare
and performed by major international talent, that will celebrate Shakespeare's
enduring influence on all the performing art forms from opera to jazz, from
ballet to musicals. The evening is being directed by Gregory Doran and produced
for television by John Wyver, the Director of RSC Screen Productions.
Tony Hall, Director-General BBC, says: "Our ambition is
to get more people excited about Shakespeare than ever before – through drama,
great performance, documentary; festivals and social media too. We’re
partnering with talent right across the country and delighted to be working
with the RSC. 2016 is going to be the biggest celebration of Shakespeare we’ve
ever put on - for everyone."
RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran says: “Shakespeare gives
us a 360 degree view of what it is to be human and has inspired creativity
across every art form. This live event is the highlight of what will be an
extraordinary year for Shakespeare fans, and gives us a chance to celebrate
just how far his genius has travelled, influencing artists down the centuries
and across the world. We are delighted to join in partnership with the BBC on
this and other Shakespeare projects, including collaborations on our extensive
archive holdings and our national tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Play For
The Nation, with 13 theatre partners, amateur companies from every nation and
region of the UK playing Bottom and his friends, and local children playing
Titania's fairy train.”
Kim Shillinglaw, Controller BBC Two and BBC
Four, says: "BBC Two is playing a central role in the BBC's
Shakespeare celebrations next year and I'm delighted we will be showing this
very special piece which typifies the new ambition and scale we are bringing to
arts programming on the channel."
Further details about the special and the rest of the BBC’s
2016 Shakespeare programming will be announced later this year.
The RSC's artistic programme for 2016 will be announced in
detail in September 2015 - see what's been announced so far here.
Earlier today it was confirmed that David Tennant will be
taking his award winning performance of Richard II to New York as the four King
and Country history plays head across the Atlantic to be performed as a cycle
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music from March 2016. Read more here.
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