Globe announces triumphant first season in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and new productions for second season

Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce a triumphant first season in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, with events and productions playing to average audiences of 95% capacity and over 40,000 tickets sold across the January-April season. The candlelit space and captivating performances enchanted critics and members of the public alike, winning five-star reviews and praise for this “exquisite little jewel box” of a theatre (The Independent) that “feels like it’s always been there and was just waiting to be uncovered” (The Guardian). While the authentically unforgiving oak bench seating initially provoked a few grumbles, extra cushioning was deemed to have improved matters by the end of the season. 

The second season of indoor theatre in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse will open and close with plays by John Ford. His infamous tale of incestuous lust and obsessive revenge, ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore, opens on 23 October 2014, while The Broken Heart – another searching exploration of the darkest recesses of the human psyche – will run from 12 March to 18 April 2015. Completing the trio of classic Jacobean tragedies, Middleton’s ferocious tale of madness and passion The Changeling will run from 15 January to 1 March 2015. 

Two stellar productions from the first season will be revived: Adele Thomas’s hilarious and joyful The Knight of the Burning Pestle and Cavalli’s L’Ormindo, a revival of the ground-breaking collaboration between Shakespeare’s Globe and The Royal Opera. The former, which will run across Christmas from 11 December 2014 to 11 January 2015, will again star Pauline McLynn as the Citizen’s Wife. Kasper Holten’s exquisite production of L’Ormindo, a smash hit that won unanimous rave reviews in March this year, returns from 3 February to 5 March 2015.

Between 11 February and 7 March, the Playhouse will host the world premiere of Claire van Kampen’s new play with music, Farinelli and the King. Set in eighteen-century Spain and Italy, it tells the true story of Farinelli, the world’s most famous castrato, and his decision to trade fame and fortune for a live of servitude at the court of King Philip V. Replete with beautiful arias originally sung by Farinelli, this production promises to be a feast for the ears and eyes. 

The Globe Young Players, a company of talented 12-16-year-olds who train with the Globe’s resident experts in the craft and practice of early modern drama, will present Marlowe’s Dido, Queen of Carthage. An exploration of the tragic antagonisms that arise when public duty and private passions collide, this production will be the second outing for the Players following their staging of The Malcontent in April, and will play six performances only. 

Although the main theatre season in the Playhouse does not open until 23 October, events continue throughout the summer. From Saturday 31 May to Monday 9 June, the Playhouse will host Nobel Prize-winning poet and author Derek Walcott’s new stage adaptation of his 1990 epic poem Omeros, starring Joseph Marcell. Joseph is best known for his long-standing role as Geoffrey in the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He is currently starring in the Globe’s touring production of King Lear for the second year running and has worked extensively with the Globe and the RSC over the course of his 37-year career. 

From Sunday 27 July to Sunday 10 August, members of The Sixteen – one of the world’s greatest choral ensembles – will perform Thomas Tallis, a specially-commissioned piece about the life and work of the celebrated Tudor composer, written by Jessica Swale and directed by Adele Thomas. Jessica Swale made her playwrighting debut at the Globe last year with the critically-acclaimed Blue Stockings.

Last but not least, on 14 July Dominic Dromgoole’s Julius Caesar (playing in the Globe Theatre from 20 June to 11 October) will enter the Playhouse for one special candlelit performance. The production stars George Irving as Caesar, Luke Thompson as Mark Antony, Katy Stephens as Calphurnia, Tom McKay as Brutus, Anthony Howell as Cassius and Catherine Bailey as Portia. 

Rising star Luke Thompson appeared in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe last year, when he was nominated for an Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance as Lysander. Anthony Howell is best known for his starring role as Sergeant Paul Milner in the acclaimed television series Foyle’s War – he has also toured with Peter Hall’s company in A Doll’s House and Portrait of a Lady. Tom McKay recently completed filming on the BBC series The White Queen. He has also toured the US with the Tricycle’s The Great Game, and appeared in Michael Grandage’s Frost/Nixon in the West End.  Katy Stephens appeared as Tamora in last year’s production of Titus Andronicus at the RSC, and during her time at Stratford she also played Rosalind in As You Like It and Regan in King Lear. George Irving’s extensive television credits include a three-year role in Holby City.

The full cast is Catherine Bailey, Sam Cox, Patrick Driver, Anthony Howell, George Irving, Joe Jameson, Tom Kanji, Christopher Logan, William Mannering, Tom McKay, Keith Ramsay, Paul Rider, Katy Stephens, Luke Thompson and Dickon Tyrrell. 

ENDS

For further information please contact Louise Gilbert or Julia Hallawell at Shakespeare’s Globe on +44 207 902 1492/1541 or email [email protected] / [email protected] 

Omeros

31 May – 9 June 2014 

Thomas Tallis

27 July – 10 August 2014 

Julius Caesar (in the Globe Theatre)

20 June – 11 October 2014

Press night: Wed 2 July 2014

Globe Outside In, Julius Caesar (in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse)

Monday 14 July 2014 

‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore

23 October – 7 December 2014

Press night TBC

The Knight of the Burning Pestle

11 December 2014 – 11 January 2015 

The Changeling

15 January – 1 March 2015

Press night TBC

L’Ormindo

3 February – 5 March 2015 

Farinelli and the King

11 February – 7 March 2015

Press night: Friday 20 February 2015

The Broken Heart

12 March – 18 April 2015

Press night: Wednesday 18 March 2015

Dido, Queen of Carthage

9 – 18 April 2015 

Shakespeare’s Globe Booking:

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 (Globe Theatre) £10 - £60 (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse) 

Priority booking for the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse for Friends and Patrons opens on 2 June. Information about the benefits of being a Friend or Patron is available online at www.shakespearesglobe.com/support-us/individual-support/friends-patrons or contact the Friends & Patrons office on 020 7902 5970, email [email protected]. 

Public booking opens on 16 June.