Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)’s Pericles, direct from a “triumphant” (The Telegraph) run at the company’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK. One of the world’s preeminent theater companies, the RSC returns to Chicago for the first time in 30 years as part of a new, ongoing partnership with CST.
Tamara Harvey directs this major new production of Shakespeare’s moving tale in her and Daniel Evans’ first season as the RSC’s co‑artistic directors. The Guardian raved about the UK premiere, “Pericles could not have been done better.” This exclusive engagement runs October 20–December 7 in the Courtyard Theater, marking CST’s 100th international production bringing the world’s great artists to Chicago.
When Prince Pericles solves a riddle set by the neighboring King, he knows the answer could get him killed. Fleeing for safety, he finds himself swept away on an epic voyage that will see him battle princes, marry his true love, and become a father. But this is also a journey of storms and shipwrecks, abduction and devastating loss. Adrift in an ocean of grief, will Pericles ever see his family again?
“It is a huge pleasure to be bringing the Royal Shakespeare Company back to Chicago for the first time in 30 years with this most timely and beautiful production of Pericles,” said CST’s artistic director Edward Hall. “The inaugural production as co‑artistic director from Tamara Harvey is a rare opportunity for audiences to immerse themselves in this thought-provoking and wise story brought to life by an exceptionally talented company. This marks the beginning of a partnership between the RSC and CST in an expression of the shared passion for Shakespeare long held by us, Tamara Harvey, and Daniel Evans.”
Harvey shared, “As I stepped with excitement and trepidation into the rehearsal room to create this, my RSC debut, I wouldn’t have dared hope that the experience could be so joyful and creatively exhilarating. This company of actors is extraordinary, and we are thrilled to welcome Zach Wyatt as Pericles for the next leg of our journey together, whose professional debut—a very Pericles-like note of connection and reunion—was with Ed Hall when he was artistic director of Hampstead Theatre in London.”
She continued, “Sharing this lesser-known Shakespeare with audiences in Stratford‑upon‑Avon has confirmed our belief that Pericles’ perennial relevance is compelling, with its examination of leadership, endurance, loss, and hope. We can’t wait to share this beautiful play with Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s audiences as together we start to write the next chapter in the centuries-old story of collaboration between our two nations.”
Zach Wyatt leads the cast of the Chicago engagement in the title role of Prince Pericles. Wyatt has been seen onstage in the West End production of A Little Life, Bartholomew Fair and The Merry Wives of Windsor at The Globe, Wild East at the Young Vic, and I And You at Hampstead Theatre. His television and film credits include The Witcher: Blood Origin, Timestalker, and Blithe Spirit.
The company also includes Miles Barrow (Thaliard/Boult), Philip Bird (Helicanus), Jacqueline Boatswain (Cerimon/Bawd), Rachelle Diedericks (Marina), Chyna‑Rose Frederick (Antiochus’ Daughter/Lychorida/Diana), Sasha Ghoshal (Ensemble), Leah Haile (Thaisa), Felix Hayes (Anitochus/Pander), Kel Matsena (Lysimachus), Miriam O’Brien (Ensemble), Emmanuel Olusanya (Ensemble), Chukwuma Omambala (Cleon), Sam Parks (Escanes, Leonine), Christian Patterson (Simonides), and Gabby Wong (Dionyza).
Joining Harvey on the creative team are Jonathan Fensom (Set Designer), Kinnetia Isidore (Costume Designer), Ryan Day (Lighting Designer), Claire van Kampen (Composer),Claire Windsor (Sound Designer), Annie‑Lunnette Deakin-Foster (Movement Director), Charlotte Sutton CDG (Casting Director),Elinor Peregrin (Music Director), Tess Dignan (Voice and Text), Francesca Murray-Fuentes (Associate Director), Zoë Thomas‑Webb (Associate Costume Designer), and Juliano Zaffino (Textual Consultant).
The press opening for Pericles is scheduled for Friday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m.
More information at www.chicagoshakes.com/pericles or on social media at @chicagoshakes.
Pericles
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Tamara Harvey
October 20–December 7, 2024
Courtyard Theater
PERFORMANCE LISTING
- Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. (except November 12 and 19)
- Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (no evening on November 27)
- Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. (except November 28)
- Fridays at 7:00 p.m.
- Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- Sundays at 2:00 p.m. (additional performance at 7:00 p.m. on December 1)
Chicago Shakespeare strives to make its facility and performances accessible to all patrons. Accessible seating, assistive listening devices, large-print and Braille programs, and sensory tools are available at every performance. Enhanced performances include:
-
Audio-described performance with optional touch tour – Sunday, November 17 2:00 p.m.
A program that provides spoken narration of a play’s key visual elements for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Touch Tours provide patrons the opportunity to experience, firsthand, a production’s design elements. -
Open captioning – Wednesday, November 20 at 1:00 & 7:00 p.m.
A text display of the words and sounds heard during a play, synced live with the action onstage. -
Projected Spanish translated performance - Thursday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m.
A text display of the words of the play, translated into Spanish, synced live with the dialogue. -
ASL interpreted performance – Friday, November 22, at 7:00 p.m.
All dialogue and lyrics are translated into American Sign Language by two certified interpreters
Creative Team
Tamara Harvey - Director
Jonathan Fensom – Set Designer
Kinnetia Isidore – Costume Designer
Ryan Day - Lighting Designer
Claire van Kampen - Composer
Claire Windsor - Sound Designer
Annie‑Lunnette Deakin‑Foster - Movement Director
Charlotte Sutton CDG - Casting Director
Elinor Peregrin - Music Director
Tess Dignan - Voice and Text
Francesca Murray-Fuentes - Associate Director
Zoë Thomas-Webb - Associate Costume Designer
Juliano Zaffino - Textual Consultant
Cast
Miles Barrow
Philip Bird
Jacqueline Boatswain
Rachelle Diedericks
Chyna-Rose Frederick
Sasha Ghoshal
Leah Haile
Felix Hayes
Kel Matsena
Miriam O’Brien
Emmanuel Olusanya
Chukwuma Omambala
Sam Parks
Christian Patterson
Gabby Wong
Zach Wyatt
ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
A Regional Tony Award recipient, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) produces a bold and innovative year-round season—plays, musicals, world premieres, family productions, and theatrical presentations from around the globe—alongside education programming for students, teachers, and lifelong learners, and engagement with communities across the city. Located on Chicago’s iconic Navy Pier, CST’s campus features the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater, The Yard, and the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio. Onstage, in classrooms and neighborhoods across the city, and in venues around the world, Chicago Shakespeare is a multifaceted cultural center—inviting audiences, artists, and community members to share powerful stories that connect and inspire.
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY (RSC)
The Royal Shakespeare Company creates exceptional theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, London and around the world, performing plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as commissioning a wide range of original work from contemporary writers. Our purpose is to ensure that Shakespeare – and theatre as a whole – is for everyone, and we do that by unlocking the power of his plays and live performance, and with our learning and education work throughout the UK and across the world. www.rsc.org.uk
The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
The work of the RSC is supported by the Culture Recovery Fund
The RSC is generously supported by RSC America
The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.www.artscouncil.org.uk.
Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies responsible for administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund, of which we delivered over £1 billion to the sector in grants and loans. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19.