Shakespeare: Measure for Measure (Royal Shakespeare Company)

Antony Byrne (The Duke of Vienna); Sandy Grierson (Angelo); Claire Price (Escalus); James Cooney (Claudio); Amy Trigg (Juliet); Lucy Phelps (Isabella); Joseph Arkley (Lucio); Tom Dawze (Froth); Graeme Brookes (Mistress Overdone); David Ajao (Pompey); Michael Patrick (Elbow); Amanda Harris (Provost);

‘TO WHOM SHOULD I COMPLAIN?’

When a young novice nun is compromised by a corrupt official, who offers to save her brother from execution in return for sex, she has no idea where to turn for help. When she threatens to expose him, he tells her that no one would believe her.

Shakespeare wrote this play in the early 1600s, yet it remains astonishingly resonant today. Artistic Director Gregory Doran directs this new production.

Reviews

"... an assured production in which there are no half measures. Gregory Doran’s assured production offers a perfectly judged portrait of public hypocrisy and seething sexuality." (The Guardian ★★★★)

"Helmed by Royal Shakespeare Company artistic director Gregory Doran, this production is a Measure for Measure laden with powerful beats and clear, but uncomfortably loaded, images." (The Stage)

"Gregory Doran’s lucid compelling production....he has a way of making classical theatre excitingly simple and vivid...a luminous clarity. The city's bawds are an appealingly awful, well-tailored bunch, best of all a gorgeously lubricious Joseph Arkley as the dandyish but deadly Lucio" (The Times ★★★★)

"Excellent…a rolling mass of desire, repression and duplicity. Grierson's unctuous Angelo bristles with self-importance...Phelp's superb Isabella has a blazing sincerity...while Antony Byrne brings out the dark shadow in the Duke's decidedly strange behaviour." (The Financial Times ★★★★)

Extra features

Measure for Measure: A play for today?; Cast Interviews; Director's Commentary; Cast Gallery