School for Scandal at the RSC
The School for Scandal. Photo (c) RSC.
The School for Scandal by By Richard Brinsley Sheridan and directed by Tinuke Craig runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre from Tuesday 2 July to Friday 6 September 2024. Press night Tuesday 9 July.
Preview
Tinuke Craig directs Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s brilliantly biting comedy with Geoffrey Streatfeild as Sir Peter Teazle and Siubhan Harrison as Lady Sneerwell.
‘There’s no possibility of being witty without a little ill nature.’
After Shakespeare but long before Bridgerton, there was The School for Scandal, Sheridan’s brilliantly biting comedy of manners in five acts. This new production — styled to the nines with period flair — promises an exuberant feast of big wigs and even bigger laughs.
1770s London, where the aristocracy’s morals have plunged lower than the necklines on the women’s gowns. The vicious Lady Sneerwell enjoys ruining reputations for pleasure, and her latest target is the young bachelor Charles Surface - why should this pretentious little rake inherit his uncle’s fortune?
Together with Charles’ conniving brother Joseph, Sneerwell orchestrates an elaborate scheme of intrigue and infidelity that’s sure to ruffle all the right feathers — hopefully.
Geoffrey Streatfeild makes his return to the RSC in the role of troubled husband Sir Peter Teazle - he last appeared at the RSC from 2006-2008, playing Henry V in Michael Boyd’s Histories Cycle. Alongside Geoffrey Streatfeild is Tara Tijani who makes her RSC debut as society beauty Lady Teazle.
Also making their debuts with the company this season are Siubhan Harrison who plays the conniving Lady Sneerwell with John Leader as Charles Surface and Yasemin Özdemir as Maria. They are joined by Stefan Adegbola as Joseph Surface and Wil Johnson as Sir Oliver Surface.
Tinuke Craig, director, said: “I’m so thrilled to be reviving this delightful play and to be working with such a skilled and inventive group of actors. There’s something about Sheridan’s approach to comedy that feels startingly fresh, relevant and contemporary, despite being written over 250 years ago. Vanity, envy, gossip, self-delusion, sleaze – it doesn’t take much to see how little our habits have changed over the years! And to be making this work at such an exciting time in the RSC’s history is the cherry on the cake.”
L-R Top row: Geoffrey Streatfeild, Siubhan Harrison, John Leader, (L-R bottom row)Yasemin Ozdemir, Stefan Adegbolas, Will Johnson. Photos (c) RSC.
Read the full bios of all the actors on the RSC website.
Joining Tinuke on the creative team are Set and Costume Designer Alex Lowde, Lighting Designer Oliver Fenwick, Composer D.J Walde, Sound Designer Max Pappenheim, Movement Director Ingrid Mackinnon, Video Designer Ravi Deepres, Dramaturg Jude Christian and Casting Director Matthew Dewsbury CDG.
For tickets call the Box Office on 01789 331111 or visit: www.rsc.org.uk
RSC £10 Tickets for 14-25s supported by TikTok
Comentários