Royal Shakespeare Company announces 2019 London season at the Barbican

The Royal Shakespeare Company will return to the Barbican with three productions of the Bard's plays later this year.

The upcoming repertory season will feature a cast of 27 in productions of As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew and Measure for Measure, for a London season following runs at the company's base in Stratford-upon-Avon. The season will take place at the Barbican from 26^th October to 18^th January 2020.

It will open with As You Like It, adapted by Kimberley Sykes. In an imaginative, upbeat retelling of Shakespeare's comedy, following a young woman as the world becomes a stage when she is exiled to the Forest of Arden. As You Like It will begin previews on 26^th October with a press night on 29^th October.

With inspiration taken from Naomi Alderman's novel The Power, Justin Audibert directs a new production of The Taming of the Shrew. Gender roles are reimagined in a contemporary adaptation that assesses the role of power and hierarchy, as Baptista Minola looks to marry off her two sons. The Taming of the Shrew will begin previews on 5^th November with a press night on 7^th November.

RSC artistic director Gregory Doran then directs a new production of Measure for Measure, reflecting on the current political resonance in a Shakespeare play over 400 years old. As a young nun finds herself helpless, she later meets a corrupt official who will protect her if she is willing to have sex with him. Measure for Measure will begin previews on 12^th November with a press night on 14^th November.

The Royal Shakespeare Company are at the Barbican from 26^th October to 18^th January 2020.

As You Like It tickets, The Taming of the Shrew tickets and Measure for Measure tickets at the Barbican are available now.  

^{Photo credit: Topher McGrillis (c) RSC}