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Cymbeline

Cymbeline

Written by William Shakespeare
Performed in English
2007

Written at the height of Shakespeare’s powers, Cymbeline has been described variously as his most surprising, anarchic and moving play. 

An evil stepmother, an invading army, a headless corpse, ghosts and a divine visit from Jupiter hurtle us towards an astonishing conclusion in this saga of politics, the supernatural and love. Lynchpin of the story is one of Shakespeare’s greatest female characters, the impulsive and sensual Imogen.

Produced by Cheek by Jowl in a co-production with barbicanbite07; Les Gémeaux / Sceaux / Scène Nationale; Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg.

The first performance of Cymbeline was at Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg on 27th February 2007.

“A first-class ensemble excels in this spellbinding production…close to perfection”

Le Figaro

Cast

NameCharacter
Gwendoline ChristieQueen
Tom HiddlestonPosthumus / Cloten
Jodie McNeeImogen
David CollingsCymbeline
Richard CantPisanio
Guy FlanaganIachimo
Laurence SpellmanCaius Lucius
Jake HardersDoctor
Lola Peploe / Claire CordierHelen
Ryan EllsworthBelarius
John MacMillanGuideruis
Daniel PercivalArviragus
Mark HolgateCompany
David CavesCompany

Creative Team

RoleName
DirectorDeclan Donnellan
DesignerNick Ormerod
Associate & Movement DirectorJane Gibson
Lighting DesignerJudith Greenwood
Sound DesignerRoss Chatfield
Assistant DirectorOwen Horseley
Company Voice WorkPatsy Rodenburg
Fight DirectorTerry King
Casting DirectorSiobhan Bracke
Assistant to the Movement DirectorIsabel Baquero
Technical DirectorSimon Bourne
Costume SupervisorAngie Burns
Company ManagerAnna Schmitz
Technical Stage ManagerDougie Wilson
Deputy Stage ManagerClaire Loxley
Assistant Stage ManagerValerie Cohen
Wardrobe ManagerVic Cree
LightingKristina Hjelm

Previous Performances

DateLocation
19–28 July 2007Madrid, Teatro Español, Spain
3–7 July 2007Moscow, Pushkin Drama Theatre, Russia
24 May–23 June 2007London, Barbican, UK
15–18 May 2007Reykjavik, Reykjavik Arts Festival, Iceland
2–12 May 2007New York, BAM, USA
11–15 April 2007Milan, Piccolo Teatro, Italy
5–7 April 2007The Hague, De Koninklijke Schouwburg, Netherlands
28 March–1 April 2007Brussels, Wolubilis, Belgium
7–25 March 2007Sceaux, Les Gémeaux Scène Nationale, Paris, France
27 February–2 March 2007Luxembourg, Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Reviews

“A first-class ensemble excels in this spellbinding production…close to perfection.”

Le Figaro

“The triumph of this outstanding production is to take a flighty fairytale and alchemize into something that actually matters… Superlative stuff.”

The Evening Standard

“The emotions are so intense and clearly expressed by the young company that it’s impossible not to be gripped.”

Time Out

“Shakespeare as smartly adrenalised as anything cooked up in a Soho editing suite. Piquant theatricality…A peach of a production.”

The Telegraph

“One scene pours into another. It is both intensely studied and as natural as real life. Donnellan is a master at not just placing the actors but also drawing your attention to the space between them. The lighting by Judith Greenwood is exceptional, at times making it seem as if the sky itself is boiling.”

The Guardian

“Fluidity has always been the hallmark of ever-changing ensemble Cheek by Jowl, but I can’t recall a production of theirs that put the actors through their paces as much as this unflaggingly fleet-of-foot Cymbeline…Tableaux form and dissolve in the blink of an eye…Opens up vistas of meaning.”

The Daily Telegraph

“Declan Donnellan’s superb Cheek by Jowl production reveals the benefits of downplaying the self-reflexivity and mining each moment for its emotional truth. His minimalist, modern-dress production succeeds in imposing a spell-binding imaginative unity on this play.”

The Independent
Production photo
Photograph: Keith Pattison

“The emotions are so intense and clearly expressed by the young company that it’s impossible not to be gripped”

Time Out

Think us no churls,
Nor measure our good minds
By this rude place we live in.

What pleasure, sir, find we in life, to lock it from action and adventure?

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