SOME of the greatest works of Shakespeare will be staged alongside exciting new works from some of the most dynamic young companies and writers as part of the 2009 programme at the Everyman and Playhouse.
The programme, revealed yesterday as the theatres announced a 46% attendance rise during Capital of Culture year, brings the Royal Shakespeare Company back to Liverpool and includes an experimental musical comedy from Cate Blanchett’s Australian company.
Executive director Deborah Aydon said that, by spring, 2009, funding should be in place to completely rebuild the Everyman, with work expected to begin on site in 2010.
The 2009 season begins at the Playhouse with a double header of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice from the acclaimed all-male theatre comp-any Propeller and directed by Edward Hall, running on alternate dates from January 22-31.
Arthur Miller’s The Price will be at the Playhouse in February, with Spike Theatre’s fairytale The Sandman “for adults and brave children” at the Everyman.
The RSC brings Othello, directed by Kathryn Hunter to the Playhouse in March (3-7).
That month will also see visit-ing Eclipse Theatre bring the stage adaptation of The Hounding of David Oluwale, the true story of an immigrant who met a tragic fate after being let down by the UK authorities.
The Convict’s Opera, presented by Sydney Theatre Company, run by Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett, is a contemporary musical take on The Beggar’s Opera; while Billy Wonderful, a new work by North West writer Nick Leather, keeps to the thea-tres’ grass roots by touring the communities of Liverpool before a March-April run at the Everyman.
Russian espionage meets The Importance of Being Earnest in Peepolykus’ Spyski!, Theatr Clwyd brings Great Expectations, and Sir Peter Hall brings French farce Where There’s a Will.
Actor Stephen Tomkinson stars in Tim Firth’s new comedy Sign of the Times; Cloudcuckooland is a new musical for children, and, finally, JB Priestley’s When We Are Married runs throughout May at the Playhouse, a co-production with West Yorkshire Playhouse.
“I feel incredibly proud of what we have all pulled of. The city feels a different place from even one year ago,” said Ms Aydon.
Artistic director Gemma Bodinetz added: “So many inspira-tional things have happened this year that will fit into our legacy. We are getting more and more actors of the stature of Pete Postlethwaite and Matthew Kelly wanting to work with us.
“We have been chasing Peter Hall’s company for quite a while now, and it says something that companies like that are now chasing us.”
Tickets go on sale on Dec 8.
vickyanderson
