Antony and Cleopatra - Stratford Upon Avon Tickets

Sometime between 1603 and 1607 William Shakespeare penned one of the most celebrated historical tragedies of all time. A play that would continue to be staged for centuries, it featured on of his most complex female characters and would take on the name of “Antony and Cleopatra”. Now the Royal Shakespeare Company returns it to its rightful place onstage with a new production at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

It is here that Michael Boyd will direct both Darrell D’Silva and Kathryn Hunter in the iconic roles of the Roman General Mark Antony and the final Egyptian Pharaoh Cleopatra, whose relationship is explored between the time of the Parthian War and the latter’s eventually suicide in 30BC. Whilst this compelling plot unfolds, the tensions rise at the hands of the future Roman Emperor Octavius Caesar.

Director Michael Boyd is the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Artistic Director and for them he has helmed many productions, including “The Grain Store” and “As You Like It” under the current ensemble. He has also been behind the likes of “This England: Histories Cycle” (earning a Laurence Olivier Award), “Henry IV” and “Richard III”.

His actors are also familiar faces of the RSC, with Kathryn Hunter taking on the role as the company’s Artistic Associate and appearing in shows like “Othello”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “The Grain Store” and “King Lear”. She is also the owner of a coveted Laurence Olivier Award having earned it for her role in “The Visit” at the National Theatre in 1990, whilst her other credits include “Fragments” and “Kafka’s Monkey” at the Young Vic Theatre as well as “Whistling Pysche” at the Almeida Theatre. For the screen her best known role is that of Arabella Figg in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”.

Her co-star Darrell D’Sylva returns to work with the RSC following his stint in “Julius Caesar”, in which he previously portrayed Mark Antony. He can currently be witnessed in both “The Drunks” and “King Lear” for the company and has also appeared in the likes of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Troilus and Cressida”, “Henry VIII” and “Camino Real”. For the screen he has appeared in the film “Dirty Pretty Things” and the television shows “Messiah 3”, “Bonekickers” and “Spooks”.

“Antony and Cleopatra” appears at the Courtyard Theatre from Tuesday 20th April 2010 (previews from Saturday 10th April 2010) until Saturday 28th August 2010.