Martin Shaw and Tracy-Ann Oberman headline Richmond Theatre’s upcoming spring season, which also includes productions of Little Women and The Rocky Horror Show.
Shaw returns to the role of Sir Thomas More in historical drama A Man for All Seasons, running March 11-15. Robert Bolt’s play, which also stars Gary Wilmot, tells the story of the most powerful and dangerous figures who shaped English history.
The Merchant of Venice arrives from the West End, running from April 8-12 and transporting the Shakespearean classic to 1930s Britain against the Battle of Cable Street. Oberman stars as the first British actress to play Shylock, with Joseph Millson as Antonio.
With the city on the brink of political unrest, fascism sweeping across Europe and Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists threatening a paramilitary march through the Jewish East End, strong-willed single mother Shylock runs a pawnbroking business from her house in Cable Street where Mosley will march. When charismatic, antisemitic aristocrat Antonio comes to her for a loan, a high-stakes deal is struck. Will Shylock take her revenge, and who will pay the ultimate price?
Peter James thriller Picture You Dead runs from March 18-22, starring Peter Ash, Fiona Wade and George Rainsford. Little Women, from June 3-7, brings to life the enduring journey of the Louisa May Alcott’s March sisters.
The Rocky Horror Show returns from April 28 – May 3, with Jackie Clune as the Narrator. The Last Laugh reimagines the lives of three of Britain’s greatest comedians: Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse, playing June 17-21.
…Earnest?, which sees this presentation of an Oscar Wilde play bring up an actual audience member to star in the show, plays from June 12-14, and Murder, She Didn’t Write will see the audience become the author in this ingenious improvised murder mystery on May 6.
Richmond Theatre will also have two family productions: The Smartest Giant in Town brings Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s book to life on April 2-3, while Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians (May 8-11) and Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors (May 8-10) showcases the gory side of history based on the books and television show of the same name.
Top image: The Last Laugh, The Merchant of Venice, A Man for All Seasons (supplied)