- Romeo and Juliet at Middle Temple Hall
August 10, 2008
A new production of Romeo and Juliet, starring Juliet Rylance and Santiago Cabrera, will bring Shakespeare back to London’s Middle Temple Hall as part of the 2008 Temple Festival. The festival is a year-long celebration to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Temple’s Royal Charter.
After centuries of being under Church then Crown ownership, the Inner and Middle Temples gained independence in 1608, when King James I signed the charter granting the Inns freehold of their land. The Temple was part of the Inns of Court, which served as law schools Medieval and Early Modern England. Middle Temple Hall, the social heart of the Temple, was built in 1562 and is considered one of the finest examples of an Elizabethan hall in England. The hall hosted plays and masques on special occasions and the first recorded performance of Twelfth Night took place there on 2 February 1602. It is believed that Shakespeare himself acted in the performance.
The new production of Romeo and Juliet is being presented by Theatre of Memory. The company was founded in January 2007 by Juliet Rylance and David Sturzaker, who met while acting together at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Rylance is the daughter of Mark Rylance, the former Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe, and an accomplished actor in her own right. The company’s name comes from its philosophy that actor and audience can create a shared memory and a shared identity through live performance.
Juliet Rylance will play the role of her namesake, Juliet, opposite Santiago Cabrera as Romeo. Cabrera is best known for his role as Isaac Mendez in the American TV series Heroes. The production will also feature Ann Mitchell as the nurse, Will Kemp as Mercutio and Nicolas Tennant’s as Friar Lawrence.
The creative team for Romeo and Juliet brings a wealth of experience in producing Shakespeare. Director Tamara Harvey recently directed an all-female production of Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Costume designer Jenny Tiramani was Director of Theatre Design at Shakespeare’s Globe from its opening in 1997 until 2005. And, composer Claire van Kampen, who has written an original score for the production, was the first female Musical Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Director of Theatre Music at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre for its first ten years. Claire van Kampen is also the mother of Juliet Rylance.
Theatre of Memory’s production of Romeo and Juliet runs at Middle Temple Hall from 20 August - 13 September 2008.
Tickets are available on the Barbican website or by calling 0845 120 7543.
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