Having spent the last two years with a steady job in Stratford and London, the RSC Histories cycle has come to an end, and the actors have been scattered to the four winds. I've already found what's happening next for two of them - James Tucker in 'Ivanov' at the Wyndham's, Richard Cordery in 'Waste' at the Almeida - but really want to know what the rest of them have planned, if anything. Especially Geoffrey Streatfeild, Jonathan Slinger, Katy Stephens, and Chuk Iwuji, but I have a feeling I'll have my ears pricked for all of them for a good long while yet. So if anyone knows anything, please share!

Patrice Naiambana is playing Othello in the RSC tour next year, that's all I've heard so far.

And now John Mackay and Julius D'Silva are at the Chichester Festival Theatre, in 'Six Characters In Search Of An Author' and 'Aristo', respectively.

Looks like a trip to Chichester is in order. Anyone else turned up yet?

Blimey, this is a production I really want to see now!

Katy Sephens is in Mine by Shared Experience in London and then on tour. And she's just as fabulous in this as she was in the Histories.

She *is* fabulous. I heard a rumour she might be heading back to the RSC next year. If she does, I am SO there!

Umm... if no one minds the plug, I have a blog: http://beyondthehistories.blogspot.com/ It's not "stalking", it's "following careers". I welcome all tip-offs and gossip, although will only publish what can be confirmed easily or at the very least comes from a decent source.

I have heard further to the above that Katy Stephens will be Rosalind in As You, also that Clive Wood may be in the same ensemble.

Hooray if they are both back.

That'd be great, I've already got my tickets for As You Like It and The Winter's Tale next year. Clive Wood as Leontes perhaps? I'll be skipping the Russian plays though, the latest RSC mailing failed to make either or those sound like it was worth an extra trip to Stratford.

Ooh, yes please, Clive Wood as Leontes.

BTW, Jonathan Slinger was in last week's Touch of Frost (that's a British TV programme, Jenny!)

That would be fantastic!

Will check out the blog too Weez

Just a quick note to say the following have been confirmed:

Clive Wood will be in As You
Forbes Masson will be Jacques in As You
Katy Stephens will be Rosalind in As You

Weez's blog is definitely worth a look: http://beyondthehistories.blogspot.com/

Isn't Forbes Masson in Postlethwaite's King Lear? How is he going to fit in the London transfer with rehearsals for AYLI?!

Well, AYLI starts on the 18th April and King Lear finishes on 28th March. If rehearsals do start before the end of the Lear run, I imagine there may well be a period of time where he'll be shuttling backwards and forwards between AYLI rehearsals in the day and Lear performances in the evening. Which - as I understand it - isn't so uncommon for actors to do. :3

Although the RSC press release said AYLI would start on 18th March, which *would* have been an overlap issue! I'm pretty certain that was an error though.

The RSC has rehearsal spaces in London though doesn't it? The histories were largely rehearsed in London from what I've read, so it might be exhausting but logistically it's entirely feasible.

From the press release:


Quick edit: to say I didn't realise who I was replying to, and I love your blog- thankyou!

News for Nicholas Asbury, he is to play John Faa/Jopari/Chevalier Tialys/Cleric/Scholar in His Dark Materials at the Birmingham Rep in March 2009 and then on tour.

Also from the original production in 2000/2001, Christopher Ettridge (who played Cardinal of Winchester in Henry VI) is in this as Lord Boreal/Boatman/Hopcraft/Dr Sargent

In general old RSC actors:

Emma Pallant (Mrs Lonsdale/Ruta Skadi/Nurse/Witch) was in the 2000/2001 History company, but was in Henry IV.

Daniel Brocklebank (Brother Jasper/Kaisa) was in the 2003 season in Titus Andronicus among other things.

Geoffrey Lumb (Iorek/Dr West/Perkins/Cawson/Cleric), was in the Complete Works in the Romeo and Juliet/Much Ado About Nothing/King John company.