Shakespeare’s Globe to offer two Chinese-language Shakespeare productions this summer

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Shakespeare’s Globe to offer two Chinese-language Shakespeare productions this summer

Thursday 11 June

Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to welcome back two Chinese companies from the hugely successful Globe to Globe festival of international Shakespeare this summer. From 20 to 25 July, the National Theatre of China will perform their Richard III in Mandarin. Then from 17 to 23 August, the Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio from Hong Kong will stage their brand new production of Macbeth in Cantonese. Both productions will have scene synopses in English.

In 2012, the Globe invited theatre companies from around the world to stage all 37 of Shakespeare’s works in 37 different languages for the Globe to Globe festival, part of the Cultural Olympiad. Since then, foreign companies have been invited back each summer to perform Shakespeare’s work in their own languages.

 

Following their first visit to the UK during the 2012 festival, the National Theatre of China will once again present their Richard III in Mandarin. Despite the company losing all their intricate, colourful costumes in a cargo container en route to the UK, the show was described as “spellbinding” by The Arts Desk and received a four-star review from The Guardian. This time in full costume, Shakespeare’s ghoulish horrorshow of power and paranoia will play four performances only from Monday 20 July.

 

Described as the ‘alchemist of minimalist theatre’, Hong Kong’s Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio works with pared-back staging, voice and movement to release the energies of classic texts. The company marked their first visit to the UK with a beautifully stylised interpretation of Shakespeare’s grisly tragedy Titus Andronicus as part of the Globe to Globe festival; they return on Monday 17 August with the world première of their brand new production of Macbeth.

 

Tom Bird, Executive Producer of the Globe Theatre, said: “The Globe has been engaged in a conversation with Chinese theatre artists since 2012, when the Globe to Globe festival included plays in both Mandarin and Cantonese. In 2014, our large-scale tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream travelled to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Hong Kong, incorporating traditional Chinese instruments into its musical score. We are thrilled that this dialogue continues in 2015, as our worldwide Hamlet tour visits China, and the National Theatre of China and Tang Shu-wing Studio return to the Globe, with two extraordinary shows that will appeal to British and Chinese audiences alike.”

 

Shakespeare’s Globe is thrilled to be taking its unprecedented Globe to Globe Hamlet tour to the Daguan Theatre in Shanghai on 1 August, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on 5 August and to the Lyric Theatre at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on 4 September.

Shakespeare’s GlobeBooking:

Phone               +44 (0) 20 7401 9919

In person          Mon-Sat 10am-6pm (8pm on performance days)

Sundays           10am-5pm (7pm on performance days)

Online               www.shakespearesglobe.com

Tickets              £5 – £39 (Richard III and Macbeth)

Patrons who are members of the free access scheme are eligible for adjusted ticket prices.

Full listings

Richard III in Mandarin (with scene synopses in English)

Monday 20 July, 7.30pm

Tuesday 21 July, 2pm

Friday 24 July, 7.30pm

Saturday 25 July, 2pm

Macbeth in Cantonese (with scene synopses in English)

Monday 17 August, 7.30pm

Tuesday 18 August, 2pm

Saturday 22 August, 7.30pm

Sunday 23 August, 1pm

 

  • The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse: The candlelit Jacobean theatre at Shakespeare’s Globe opened in January 2014. The Playhouse hosts concerts and other events throughout the summer, with the main indoor theatre season running October to April.
  • Globe Education: One of the largest arts education departments in the UK; each year, over 100,000 people of all ages and nationalities participate in its public events, workshops and courses. Globe Education also runs extensive outreach programmes for students and teachers in the Southwark community, nationally and internationally.
  • Globe Exhibition & Tour: Open to the public all year round, the Globe Exhibition and Tour explores the life of Shakespeare, the London where he lived, and the theatre for which he wrote.
  • Globe On Tour: The Globe’s productions tour extensively in the UK and internationally. Current and forthcoming tours include: Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo & Juliet, King John and a production of Hamlet that is travelling to every country in the world.
  • Globe Player: A brand new online platform offering full-length HD films of over 50 Shakespeare productions at the Globe to rent or buy.
  • Globe On Screen: Shakespeare’s Globe on Screen returns to cinemas in 2016, bringing highlights from the 2015 theatre season to cinemas worldwide. Globe on Screen 2016 will feature The Merchant of Venice, Richard II and Measure for Measure, all captured in ‘live’ high definition. For more information contact [email protected]
  • Globe Shop: Stocks a variety of products, including theatre season-specific merchandise. All profits go towards supporting our educational mission.

 

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