Northern Broadsides and New Vic team up for Shakespeare favourite

Internationally-acclaimed Northern Broadsides has teamed up with the award-winning New Vic for a co-production of one of Shakespeare’s greatest works.

Comedic battle of the sexes Love’s Labour’s Lost opens at the theatre-in-the-round on Friday 27 January before embarking on a nationwide tour.

After wowing audiences and critics with We Are Three Sisters last year, Northern Broadsides presents the comedy to celebrate the beginning of their 20th anniversary year.

Barrie Rutter directs a charismatic cast of 16 multi-talented actors who will be joined at every venue by a surprise different 17th cast member who will play the role of messenger.

In true Broadsides’ style there’ll be rousing song and dance, scintillating performances, jaw-dropping comic timing and hilarious ‘steal-the-show’ scenes.

Rutter said: “As someone who never expected there to be a year two never mind a year twenty, the memory of having as I thought back in 1992 one good idea - an all northern cast presenting a classical play in non-theatrical venues (boat shed, transport museum, Middleham Castle, historical home of our protagonist Richard III) - I have to say it's all been rather exhilarating.”

Co-producing with the award-winning New Vic, the production’s creative team includes Jessica Worrall (We are Three Sisters), with lighting by David Philips and musical direction by Conrad Nelson. Broadsides presented their first co-production with the New Vic, The Tempest, in 2007, with Romeo and Juliet in 2008, The Canterbury Tales in 2010 and Hamlet in 2011.

Tickets, from £10.50 - £19.50, can be booked by telephoning the New Vic’s Box Office on 01782 717962 or online at www.newvictheatre.org.uk.