Ealing's Questors Chosen to Partner the RSC

Joint project recognises the importance of local theatre

The Questors Theatre’s current production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) will be the first event in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages project for 2011-12.

The Stratford-upon-Avon company have chosen The Questors Theatre in Ealing as its partner theatre in London for the project, along with eight other major organisations nationwide including the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon itself.

Dame Judi Dench, President of The Questors for 26 years, said, “It’s tremendous that the RSC are highlighting the importance of theatres like The Questors in our national cultural life.”

The Questors are presenting The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield from 9-19 March. They will be following this with Titus Andronicus from 26 May – 4 June, and then a Shakespeare festival in February-March 2012.

The RSC will be running workshops for selected amateur theatre practitioners at the Ealing venue over the weekend of 1-2 May, and then working in partnership with The Questors to host a showcase fortnight for amateur theatres from across London and the southern England in April 2012.

RSC Open Stages producer Ian Wainwright announced, “We are delighted to have The Questors as our Regional Partner in RSC Open Stages. Their experience of producing consistently high quality work with amateur theatre makers will prove invaluable on a project of this kind.”

Oliver Ford Davies, a Stratford-upon-Avon veteran for 35 years, most recently as Polonius in Hamlet, and a Vice President of The Questors, said, “I am delighted the RSC has chosen The Questors as a partner.”

And Amanda Redman, star of TV’s crime drama New Tricks and also a Questors Vice President, added, “This emphasizes once again what an active company The Questors is.”

15 March 2011