Live from London: Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus”
UCC’s Centerstage Theatre begins its 2014 season on Jan. 30 with the live broadcast of London’s National Theatre production of “Coriolanus” by William Shakespeare.
Director of Theater Studies Stephanie Newman and UCC administrators arranged the extensive technology necessary to air the live broadcasts in the fall of 2013. The first broadcast was “Othello,” followed by “Macbeth” and “Frankenstein.” In 2014, after “Coriolanus” is shown, “Warhorse” will be broadcast at the end of February.
The first showing of Coriolanus at 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 30 will be live. The additional showings on Friday and Saturday will be a recording of the live show.
“This production contains strong performances from some of the best people out there working right now. If there is any reason to get out of the wintertime blues and the rain, this is it,” Newman said.
“What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues, That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs?”
—Coriolanus to the plebeians
Coriolanus was written by William Shakespeare in 1607 and is based upon the history of Gaius Marcius Coriolanus, a Roman general, who is said to have lived in the 5th century BC according to ancient historians Livy, Plutarch and Dionysius of Halicarnassus. Whether this Gaius Marcius Coriolanus person actually existed or was a legendary figure is a subject of scholarly debate.
The work explores themes such as pride, revenge, envy and class conflict.
“This (Coriolanus) is a powerful story, with themes that our society still struggles with,” Newman said.
In addition to the socially relevant themes, Coriolanus is presented in a unique design fashion. Viewers expecting to see togas, sandals, marble columns and fainting couches, settings that would invoke the appearance of ancient Rome, will instead witness a design that is stark and modern, according to Newman.
Despite the modern staging, one thing that has remained the same in the National Theatre live production is the use of the original Shakespearian vernacular.
“Coriolanus gives viewers an excellent opportunity to brush up on the Shakespearian style before this February’s UCC production of Romeo and Juliet,” Newman said.
Coriolanus is directed by Josie Rourke (artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse theatre in London.) and stars Jacqueline Boatswain (“Golden Eye”) as Valeria, Peter De Jersey (“Doctor Who,” “The Bank Job”) as Cominius, Alfred Enoch (“Sherlock,” “Harry Potter” film series) as Titus, Hadley Fraser (“Les Miserables,” “Doctor Who”) as Aufidius, Deborah Findlay (“Truly Madly Deeply,” “Torchwood”) as Volumina, Mark Gatiss (“Game of Thrones,” “Sherlock,” “Doctor Who,” “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”) as Menenius, Tom Hiddleston (“Thor,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “The Avengers,” “War Horse,” “Midnight in Paris”) as Coriolanus, Birgitte Hjort Sorensen (“Truth About Men,” “At Worlds End”) as Virgilla, Elliot Levey (“Philomena,” “The Queen”) as Brutus, and Helen Schlesinger (“EastEnders,” “Persuasion”) as Sicinia.