Theatre News

Dominic Dromgoole announces his final Globe summer season

The 2015 season, titled ”Justice and Mercy”, features a major staging of ”King John” timed to coincide with the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta

Shakespeare's Globe
Shakespeare's Globe

Dominic Dromgoole has announced his final summer season at Shakespeare's Globe, where he's been artistic director since 2005.

Titled Justice and Mercy, the 2015 season will comprise a major revival of King John to coincide with the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, as well as productions of The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, Measure for Measure and Richard II.

King John will be directed by James Dacre, artistic director of the Royal and Derngate in Northampton. Dacre revealed today that the play will also visit the Holy Sepulchre Church in Northampton and the Temple Church in London.

Bowing out: Dominic Dromgoole
Bowing out: Dominic Dromgoole
© Dan Wooller

Its run at the Globe, from 1 to 28 June, will mark a completion of the Shakespeare canon since the new Globe opened in 1997.

The season also features Greek tragedy in the form of The Oresteia, a revival of Helen Edmundson's 2012 RSC play The Heresy of Love, and a new play from Blue Stockings author Jessica Swale about the life of Nell Gwynn.

Two productions from the Globe to Globe season will return – Richard III (in Mandarin) and Macbeth (in Cantonese.

Addressing journalists in the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse this morning, Dromgoole heralded the success of a space that has "more than matched every challenge that's been thrown at it".

Asked on his reflections on his near-ten year tenure at the venue, he said he "didn't have time to reflect", but mentioned projects including the world tour of Hamlet and Globe to Globe as examples of it being a place were "nobody says no to anything".

He told WhatsOnStage his successor will be announced in May next year, in order to give them time to experience both a summer and winter season before taking the reins in Spring 2016.

Full listings for the Globe's 2015 Justice and Mercy season:

The Merchant of Venice (directed by Jonathan Munby) – 23 April to 7 June
As You Like It (directed by Blanche McIntyre) – 15 May to 5 September
King John (directed by James Dacre) – 1 to 28 June
Measure for Measure (directed by Dominic Dromgoole) – 20 June to 17 October
Richard II (directed by Simon Godwin) – 11 July to 18 October
Richard III (National Theatre of China) – 20 to 25 July
The Heresy of Love – 31 July to 5 September
Macbeth (Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio) – 17 to 23 August
Oresteia – 29 August to 16 October
Nell Gwynn – 19 September to 16 October