Kevin Spacey, Oscar-winning actor and artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theatre, will play the title role in Shakespeare’s Richard III for two performances at Qatar National Convention Centre on December 16 and 17, as part of an international tour backed by the Doha Film Institute (DFI). The production, directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes, who worked with Spacey on the 1999 film American Beauty, will be hosted in association with the Middle East Theatre Academy. Qatar is the only Middle East destination included in the global tour with scheduled performances in Greece, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore and Istanbul among others. The Richard III tour kicked off amid critical acclaim at The Old Vic on June 29, 2011.Tickets to the global production are on sale and can be purchased online:
www.dohafilminstitute.com/Richard-111 or from the DFI Box Office located at Building 26, Katara Cultural Village. As part of its commitment to foster arts education and emerging talent, DFI has also partnered with the Kevin Spacey Foundation to offer acting workshops to two local schools as part of its inaugural flagship project, Richard’s Rampage, an initiative spanning 11 countries and three continents. The programme will offer students an opportunity to participate in a bespoke workshop and enjoy free tickets to the actual performance of Richard III. Selected students get to participate in an exclusive question and answer session with Kevin Spacey and contribute to creating a film that includes young people from around the world. Mendes directs a formidable cast of British and American actors, including Maureen Anderman as the Duchess of York; Haydn Gwynne as Queen Elizabeth; Chuk Iwuji as Duke of Buckingham; Gemma Jones as Queen Margaret; and Chandler Williams as George, Duke of Clarence. Mendes said: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with Kevin again for the first time since American Beauty, and I am doubly thrilled that he is leading year three of The Bridge Project. Richard III is a play I love, and a role I think Kevin is born to play. I’m also thrilled that the partnership between our three entities has strengthened and blossomed over the course of this venture, along with a host of invaluable international partnerships that have enabled us to extend the reach of global touring year after year.” Spacey added: “Sam is one of the finest directors I have had the pleasure to work with and to gain this opportunity is beyond my wildest hopes. I love Sam’s perspective on a role, carving and shaping the actor. With such a remarkable character before me, I have a feeling this one is going to be a memorable experience. It is also my hope to bring a comprehensive educational programme and opportunities for emerging artistes along with our travels, making an argument for the living theatre in all the major cities we will visit throughout 2011. We are delighted that Bank of America Merrill Lynch has come on board for another season as our sponsor and I applaud their continued support of our work.”The tour is part of The Bridge Project, an initiative that brings together British and American actors in classic theatre productions. Currently in its third year, The Bridge Project is a unique collaboration between London’s Old Vic Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and the independent UK production company Neal Street presented by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Through DFI, Doha is a co-commissioner city for the Middle East leg of the production. Along with DFI and the city of Doha, co-commissioners of the world tour include Athens and Epidaurus Festival, Centro Niemeyer Spain, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Istanbul Theatre Festival & Istanbul Municipal Theatres, Kay & McLean Productions, Napoli Teatro Festival Italia, SHN-Carole Shorenstein-Hays & Robert Nederlander as well as Singapore Repertory Theatre. The production will reach BAM in New York in January 2012. BAM executive producer Joseph V Melillo said: “The Bridge Project has been a wonderful creative adventure and an unparalleled success; its final instalment is a programmatic highlight of BAM’s upcoming 150th anniversary celebration. I am looking forward to welcoming this immensely talented, trans-Atlantic cast assembled by Sam Mendes to perform alongside Spacey as Richard III at BAM’s historic Harvey Theatre in January, and to tracking the company’s progress across the globe as ambassadors for classical theatre on a grand scale.”Amanda Palmer, executive director of the DFI, said: “Qatar already has a small but vibrant local theatre scene, and this international production can only add to the appreciation of developing the local and international theatre. We’re also pleased to see Kevin Spacey’s interest in working with local talent through his educational programme, which will see him collaborate with young talent from Doha in a series of acting workshops, both in school and on stage.”