Theatre News

RSC’s Written on the Heart posts West End closing notices for 19 May

| London's West End |

8 May 2012

The Royal Shakespeare Company production of David Edgar’s new play Written on the Heart has posted closing notices at the West End’s Duchess Theatre, where it opened on 23 April 2012 and will now finish on 19 May, one month after it started preview performances.

The play, which centres on the creation of the King James Bible, transferred to London following a critically acclaimed run in rep at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Swan Theatre, where it premiered in November 2011. It had previously been booking in London through to 21 July 2012.

Written on the Heart was commissioned by the RSC to mark last year’s the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, one of the most widely published texts in the English language.

According to press material, “Across an 80-year divide, two men translate the word of God into the English tongue. For one, it means death at the stake. For the other, it could mean an archbishop’s mitre.”

Written on the Heart is directed by Gregory Doran, currently the RSC’s chief associate director who, after 25 years with the company, will succeed Michael Boyd as artistic director at the end of this year.

The cast includes: Oliver Ford Davies, Jamie Ballard, Bruce Alexander, Stephen Boxer, Paul Chahidi, James Hayes, Jim Hooper, Youssef Kerkour, Joseph Kloska, Sam Marks, Ian Midlane, Mark Quartley, Daniel Stewart, Simon Thorp, Annette McLaughlin and Jodie McNee.

David Edgar’s previous work for the RSC includes Destiny, Pentecost and the multi award-winning Nicholas Nickleby.

No further productions have yet been announced for the Duchess.

RSC artistic director designate Gregory Doran and members of the Written on the Heart cast will be taking part in our post-show Q&A following tonight’s performance. If you’re not attending, be sure to tune in later for our live-tweeting from the event on the #wosouting hashtag.