· Following its success in Madrid, on February 1st Shakespeare’s Henry VIII will be staged in IE University’s aula magna, housed in the former church of the fifteenth century Santa Cruz la Real Convent, where it will begin a tour of several Spanish cities.
· The play, which has been nominated for fourteen Max Theater Awards, was a hit at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London
· Tickets are available from the Visitors Reception Center in Segovia
The Rakatá company’s production of William Shakespeare’s Henry VIII will begin its tour of Spanish cities in Segovia on February 1, in IE University’s aula magna, housed in the former church of the Santa Cruz la Real Convent. The Convent was declared a national heritage site in 1931 and is one of Segovia’s most spectacular buildings, rebuilt by the Catholic Kings at the end of the fifteenth century. The play is directed by Ernesto Arias and has been nominated for fourteen Max Awards. Tickets are available at Segovia’s Visitors Reception Center.
Henry VIII has been the latest Rakatá company project to arrive in Spain following a successful season in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. Following performances at Madrid’s Canal Theatres, the play will now begin its tour in Segovia, in a setting steeped in history. The Santa Cruz la Real convent was the first Dominican Convent to be founded in Spain in 1218 and was renovated by the Catholic Kings at the end of the fifteenth century using master architects Juan Guas, Pedro de Brizuela and Sebastián de Almonacid.
The cast comprises fourteen actors, headed by Fernando Gil in the role of Henry VIII and Elena González as Catherine of Aragón. They are accompanied by Jesús Fuente, Rodrigo Arribas, Alejandro Saá, Daniel Moreno, Oscar de la Fuente, Alejandra Mayo, Bruno Ciorda, Julio Hidalgo, Jesús Teyssiere, Sara Moraleda, Asier Tartás Landera and Diego Santos, several of whom have already appeared in previous plays produced by the company.
It is the first time the Siglo de Oro Foundation’s Rakatá company has staged the play in Spain, following the season at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. It was one of the greatest successes of the Cultural Olympics held last year, being the first Spanish company to perform a play in the iconic theater. In September the company took the production to Madrid’s Canal Theaters where it also enjoyed great success.
Fourteen nominations for Max Awards
Henry VIII is set in a historical moment in time when numerous political, social and religious changes were taking place both in England and throughout Europe. Shakespeare condenses these transformations into a play with strong characters, full of conspiracies, political instigation and intrigue, all combined with intensely dramatic moments. The second Tudor king to rein, Henry VIII cut a fascinating figure in the history of England and Europe. His passions and political policies led to an estrangement with Rome and the creation of the Anglican church. The other leading role is the figure of Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of the Catholic Kings and Henry VIII’s first wife. The king, Cardinal Wolsey, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Luther, the Turkish threat, the Spanish empire, France, and the Vatican are just some of the elements of the historical drama that represents this key moment in history.
The costumes and scenery of the production are notably low-key, designed in such a way that their simplicity serves to further underscore the outstanding performances described by London’s critics. Moreover, Spanish critics and audiences have dubbed it one of the best productions last year, with fourteen nominations for MAX Theater Awards.
Produced by the International University of la Rioja in collaboration with IE University in Segovia
The International University of la Rioja (UNIR) is coordinating the Spanish leg of the tour through its foundation. The project is a co-production of the Siglo de Oro Foundation and Lazona, and is sponsored by Mercedes Benz. It also enjoys the support of the City Council of San Sebastián de los Reyes, Almagro City Council, Teatro Español, the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, and the Spanish Ministry of Culture’s Institute of Stage Arts and Music. IE University joined forces with these institutions so that Segovia could host the first performance of a tour that will visit twenty cities in Spain, with some fifty performances in all.
The performances take place in different Spanish cities to enable students, alumni, professors and friends to experience collective cultural and scientific activities away from the classroom. UNIR is also committed to dramatic art, and runs an extensive program of theater activities.
IE University´s main campus is located in the former convent of Santa Cruz la Real Segovia (declared historical monument in 1931). IE offers its students over 18,000 square feet of classrooms, workshops, drawing halls, laboratories, radio and television studios, conference rooms and common areas, where the new technologies are integrated in a historical combination of the XV century.
Tickets
Tickets cost €18 and will be available from Wednesday, January 16, at Segovia’s Visitors Reception Center, Azoguejo, 1, Segovia (Tel. +34 921466720/ +34 921466721) and online at http://www.reservasdesegovia.com/
More information at http://www.turismodesegovia.com/
(Spanish Version)
El clásico “Enrique VIII” de Shakespeare en IE University
· Tras su triunfo en Madrid, “Enrique VIII” pasa a representarse el 1 de febrero en el Aula Magna de IE University, la antigua iglesia de Santa Cruz la Real del siglo XV, donde comienza una gira que recorrerá varias ciudades españolas
· La obra, que opta a catorce Premios Max de Teatro, triunfó en el Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre de Londres
· Ya están a la venta las entradas en el Centro de Recepción de visitantes de Segovia
La obra de teatro “Enrique VIII” de William Shakespeare, un montaje de la compañía Rakatá, iniciará su recorrido por los escenarios españoles el 1 de febrero en el Aula Magna de IE University, la antigua iglesia del Convento de Santa Cruz la Real, declarado Monumento Nacional en 1931 y uno de los edificios más espectaculares de Segovia, que fue reconstruido por los Reyes Católicos a finales del siglo XV. La obra, dirigida por Ernesto Arias, opta a catorce Premios Max de Teatro. Ya están a la venta de entradas para el espectáculo en el centro de Recepción de Visitantes de Segovia. Read more…
