Now that we’ve all had time to see in the New Year and taste the chilly spray of winter showers and seemingly perpetual darkness after a few days back at the grindstone, it’s time to look ahead at 2014 to book up something to look forward to. While holidays in the sun are probably first on the cards for a lot of us, for theatre lovers it’ll be a few great plays in the city, which is where the announcement for the Globe Theatre 2014 calendar comes in.
The season is packed with a total of 14 plays at the theatre spread between April and October 2014, which is pretty impressive as it equates to an average of two plays per month. Nine of the plays are productions of Shakespeare’s work, taking in everything from Hamlet and Julius Caesar to Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, along with 5 plays by writers like Simon Armitage and Richard Bean.
The Globe Theatre 2014 calendar:
Hamlet Globe to Globe
23rd – 26th April 2014
Kick starting the season with an epic new tour for one of Shakespeare’s most dramatic plays, Hamlet Globe to Globe looks set to be a perfect way to start the year. The four day stint for the play at the Globe Theatre is just the beginning for it though as it is planned to take to the road on an epic 2 year excursion to perform Hamlet in every country in the world (or at least 205 of them). It’s a skimmed down version of the play though, so if you’re looking for the full production this might not be the one for you.
Titus Andronicus
24th April – 13 July 2014
One of Shakespeare’s lesser known plays, Titus and Andronicus is the ghoulishly grizzly story of the fictional Roman general’s return to Rome with royal prisoners of war. Ritual sacrifice and the refusal to accept the position of emperor leads to an even more gruesome turn of events, so expect things to get pretty nasty.
Much Ado About Nothing
28th April – 19th May 2014
Another Shakespearian classic begins at the end of April, bringing the Elizabethan-style touring production of the comedy to the Globe.
All’s Well That Ends Well
5th – 10th May 2014
This is a Gugarati rendition of the play with English scene synopsis, replacing Shakespeare’s original setting of Renaissance France for 20th century India.
Antony & Cleopatra
17th May – 24th August 2014
Love and power are set against each other in the story of Marc Anthony’s relations with the legendary queen of Egypt.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
2nd – 7th June 2014
This short performance of the comic whimsy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is in sign language, so it should be even more expressively impressive than usual.
The Last Days of Troy
10th – 28th June 2014
Written by poet and author Simon Armitage, The Last Days of Rome sets out to complete the work of Homer’s Iliad, seeing the war between Greece and Troy to a vicious end.
Julius Caesar
20th June – 11th October 2014
Shakespeare’s political drama at the heart of Roman power gets a long run at the Globe. Dictatorial excesses and republican virtues clash resulting in political conflict, mob action and war.
Holy Warriors
19th July – 24th August
David Eldridge’s story if the third crusades sees the call of Richard the Lionheart facing up against the forces of Saladin for the control of the holy city of Jerusalem. However, two thousand years of conflict are wrapped up in the play, so expect to see bombs on buses as well as men with swords.
King Lear
6th – 23rd August 2014
The old King Lear watches as his kingdom is torn to shreds by his decision split it between his three daughters in the latest rendition of the play to make it to the Globe Theatre.
The Comedy of Errors
30th August – 12th October 2014
The doppelganger comedy rolls in for another stint bringing the slapstick and violent Roman tale to the big city once again. According to the Globe website, the play will feature Renaissance costumes and scenery.
Punishment Without Revenge
1st – 6th September 2014
The Lope De Vega play gets its premier at the theatre in September. It’s the story of the Duke of Ferrara’s punishing response to his intended wife Cassandra and his illegitimate son Federico’s romantic liaison.
Doctor Scroggy’s War
12th September – 10th October 2014
Howard Brenton takes us back to the First World War in his new play, Doctor Scroggy’s War, which sees a young enlisted soldier heading out into the brutal reality of the world during the devastating war.
Pitcairn
22nd September – 11th October 2014
Richard Bean’s play investigates colonial expansion in the South Pacific Ocean as Fletcher Christian leads the mutineers of The Bounty to the little Tahitian island with disastrous consequences.
To check prices or book tickets, visit https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/whats-on
