The Hollow Crown  

RSC Press Release.

Alan Howard, Richard Johnson, Donald Sinden and Harriet Walter are making a welcome return to the Royal Shakespeare Company to perform in The Hollow Crown, the RSC's hugely successful entertainment devised and directed by the legendary director John Barton. The play replaces the previously scheduled run of Hecuba with Vanessa Redgrave which was cancelled in Stratford-upon-Avon to give Ms Redgrave time to recuperate from an operation. (Hecuba will now open in London at the Albery Theatre on 26 March.)

The Hollow Crown was devised in 1961 by John Barton for the Royal Shakespeare Company as a celebratory entertainment by and about the Kings and Queens of England. Both Alan Howard and Sir Donald Sinden are CBEs and Honorary Associate Artists.

From the events of 1066 to Queen Victoria's solemn description of her own coronation, The Hollow Crown gives a human face to the English monarchy. 15-year-old Jane Austen's "partial, prejudiced and ignorant historian's" entertaining account of the monarchy from Henry IV to Charles I, embodies the essence of this sardonic, affectionate and comic look into the changing role of the kings and queens throughout the ages.

The Hollow Crown has proved to be one of the most successful and enduring productions the RSC has staged over the years. Over seventy actors have performed it at different times.

The Hollow Crown runs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 3 - 19 March 2005. For tickets, please call the Ticket Hotline on 0870 609 1110 or book online

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