It’s been reworked for the stage by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot, The Pitman Painters) from the screenplay of the smash-hit 1998 movie romantic comedy by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard.
Shakespeare In Love is directed by Declan Donnellan and designed by Nick Ormerod, who together are the driving force behind the world-renowned theatre company, Cheek by Jowl.
Plagued by debt, tormented by writer’s block and in desperate need of a new hit, promising new playwright Will Shakespeare finds his muse in the form of passionate young noblewoman Viola De Lesseps.
Their forbidden love soon draws everyone, including Queen Elizabeth herself, into the drama and inspires Will to write the greatest love story of all time: Romeo and Juliet.
Shakespeare in Love revels in the sheer joy of love itself. Prepare to be transported to to a vibrant, vivid tableau of Shakespeare’s London, teeming with colourful characters, music and life.
Tom Bateman will play Will Shakespeare and Lucy Briggs-Owen will play Viola De Lesseps.
Ian Bartholomew will play Tilney, Tony Bell will play Ralph, Anna Carteret will play Queen Elizabeth, Paul Chahidi will play Henslowe, David Ganley will play Burbage, Richard Howard will play Sir Robert De Lesseps, Harry Jardine will play Sam, Abigail McKern will play Nurse, David Oakes will play Marlowe, Patrick Osborne will play Mr Wabash, Alistair Petrie will play Wessex, Doug Rao will play Ned Alleyn, Ferdy Roberts will play Fennyman and Colin Ryan will play John Webster. They are joined by an ensemble including Daisy Boulton, Ryan Donaldson, Janet Fullerlove, Sandy Murray, Timothy O’Hara, Thomas Padden, Elliott Rennie, Charlie Tighe, Amy Marchant, Tom Clegg, Michael Chadwick and Tim Van Eyken who will also be musical director. Gaiety will play Crab the dog.
Creative Team
Original screenplay: Marc Norman, Original screenplay: Tom Stoppard, Adapted for the stage: Lee Hall, Director: Declan Donnellan, Designer: Nick Ormerod, Music: Paddy Cunneen, Choreography: Jane Gibson, Lighting Designer: Neil Austin, Sound Design: Simon Baker, Associate Director: Oli Rose, Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions
Noel Coward Theatre
85-88 St Martin’s Lane
London, WC2N 4AU
Performances
Evenings: Monday to Saturday 7.30pm
Matinees: Wednesday and Saturday 2.30pm
Booking From: 2nd July 2014
Booking Until: 18th April 2015
