A production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona opens today at the Oxford Playhouse. The show is directed by Sir Gregory Doran, the current Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at the University of Oxford and former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is the first Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor to direct a production as part of his role.
The show has been co-produced by the Oxford Playhouse and University of Oxford students, including students from the English Faculty. Sir Gregory Doran spoke about the experience on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme and explained what inspired him to stage The Two Gentlemen of Verona with Oxford University students (listen on BBC Sounds at 1:45:46).
One of the students involved in the production is Saul Bailey who is studying for a Masters in Medieval English. He will be playing the role of Sir Thurio. He commented: “Working with Greg has been a joy. Everything is text-led, and his generosity of knowledge has made us all think about the play as more than a simple comedy. For a seasoned professional to take us students seriously means a great deal, not to mention working alongside the team at the Oxford Playhouse and a wonderful cast who have worked their socks off to produce a polished show. I can't wait for audiences to see it!”
The show is running from 15 – 18 May. You can find out more and book tickets on the Oxford Playhouse website.
