As the Government pledges to increase skills development and opportunities for young people in the cultural sector, young people from the RSC’s Next Generation talent and skills development programme will stage a new version of The Two Gentlemen of Verona. The four performances of Shakespeare’s comedy will take place between 22 and 24 August in the open-air Holloway Garden Theatre and will see two of the programme participants take on their first industry roles as Trainee Assistant Director and Trainee Assistant Stage Manager.
RSC Next Generation has provided young people with opportunities to learn and develop theatre sector skills for eight years, contributing to the aim of building a fairer, more inclusive theatre industry as well as plugging creative skills shortages. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport’s first major speech reiterated the vital role of the cultural sector in creating skills development opportunities for young people which in turn contribute to national growth. Participants are recruited through the RSC’s Associate Schools Programme, the Company’s long-term partnership with schools and theatres in areas of structural disadvantage across England. The wide-reaching training programme develops talent across multiple theatre skills, and 24 members from the RSC’s young company, Next Generation Act, will join alumni from Next Generation Direct and Next Generation Backstage to create the production.
Taking on their first paid roles in theatre production, Muniira Ali will work as the show’s Trainee Assistant Director with Qaraman Saidzada in the role of Trainee Assistant Stage Manager. Qaraman and Muniira were part of the 2024 cohorts for Next Generation Backstage and Next Generation respectively.
Commenting on the opportunity for young creatives, Paul Ainsworth, the production’s Director and the RSC’s Young Theatre Makers Developer, said:
“This is an exciting milestone for RSC Next Generation. Not only have two graduates from the programme been recruited to trainee positions as part of the creative team, but for 14 new members of Next Generation Act, it will be their first experience of performing in front of a live theatre audience at the RSC.
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“We created Next Generation as a response to the inequality of opportunity that exist within our sector. Over 240 young people have been part of either the Act, Direct or Backstage strands of the programme since it began. It has provided young people from across England a route for honing their broader skills and exploring whether a career in theatre is for them. We’re thrilled that Qaraman and Muniira will be part of the production, bringing together all three of the Next Generation strands.”
One of Shakespeare’s earliest but most rarely performed plays, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, juxtaposes the provincial setting of Verona with the high-octane, patriarchy of cosmopolitan Milan. Exploring themes of friendship, betrayal, jealousy and first love, this Next Generation take on the play also reimagines the Mantuan forest as a place of refuge for those who neither conform to the metropolitan pressures of Milan or the small-town restrictions of Verona.
The costume and set design nod to the current generation, whose relationship with technology gives them access to an infinite world of music, fashion, ideas, people, and things across time. Contemporary costumes will feature era-defining pieces, picking the highlights from across the generations. The soundtrack will also span several decades creating a playlist of greatest hits.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona runs alongside another of Shakespeare’s romantic comedies in The Holloway Garden Theatre this summer, As You Like It. With disguise, love and gender identity at their core, pivotal scenes in both plays unfold outdoors, lending themselves perfectly to the outdoor setting.
Other members of the creative team include: Paul Ainsworth (Director), Reiltin Hart (Set and Costume Designer) and Rosie Bergonzi (Composer). All performances of The Two Gentlemen of Verona will include an integrated BSL interpreter and will be captioned.
Further information about the production, including timings and ticketing information can be found HERE
Further information about the RSC’s Next Generation programme can be found HERE
