Former Royal Shakespeare Company Artistic Director Greg Doran is reviving his acclaimed production of Venus and Adonis for a UK tour this June.
The production brings Shakespeare’s narrative poem to the stage through live narration by Simon Russell Beale, world-class puppetry and live musical accompaniment.
Blending comedy, tragedy and Shakespeare’s poetry, the piece tells the story of Venus and her obsession with the beautiful Adonis in a rich and captivating theatrical experience.
The production draws inspiration from Japanese Bunraku puppets and the Jacobean Court Masque, using marionette, rod, shadow and table-top puppets to tell the story.
As part of a limited UK and European tour, this revival offers a rare chance to see the erotically charged story of unrequited love at close quarters.
Venus and Adonis will tour Arts Theatre Cambridge on 9 and 10 June, Oxford Playhouse from 17 to 20 June, The Pit at the Barbican from 23 to 27 June, and York Theatre Royal on 30 June and 1 July.
The production is narrated by Simon Russell Beale, with puppets designed and created by Lyndie Wright and direction by Greg Doran.
The puppeteering team includes Bartolomeo Bartolini, Edie Edmundson, Rachel Leonard, Lee Maeda and Sarah Wright, with live music performed by Nick Lee.
Originally produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in collaboration with Little Angel Theatre, the production is supported by Backstage Trust, the Sidney E. Frank Foundation and executive producer Mark Pigott KBE.
The running time is 60 minutes with no interval, and the production contains mature themes and imagery, making it suitable for audiences aged 14 and above.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
