Overview

• Kenneth Branagh returns to the company to play Prospero in The Tempest, directed by Richard Eyre at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, with performances May 13–June 20 and an official May 26 opening.
• Branagh also stars as Lopakhin opposite Helen Hunt’s Madame Ranyevskaya in Laura Wade’s new version of The Cherry Orchard at the Swan Theatre, running July 10–August 29 and opening July 21, directed by Tamara Harvey.
• Mark Gatiss makes his RSC debut as Arturo Ui in Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, adapted by Stephen Sharkey and directed by Seán Linnen, running April 11–May 30 at the Swan with an April 21 opening.
• Martina Laird’s Driftwood premieres at The Other Place April 17–May 30 under director Justin Audibert, then transfers to London’s Kiln Theatre June 3–July 4.
• A family-focused A Midsummer Night’s Dream, co-produced with the Unicorn Theatre, plays March 21–May 3 at the Unicorn before moving to The Other Place June 19–August 30, edited by Robin Belfield and directed by Rachel Bagshaw.