Guildhall School's new Shakespeare play to stage in China

Guildhall School's new work is a part of Britain's Shakespeare400, a consortium of leading cultural, creative and educational organizations, which will mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 2016.[Photo/Britishcouncil.com]

The Guildhall School of Music & Drama's new work based on Shakespreare's sonnets and his life will be showcased in China in April, it was announced Tuesday.

The new work "Go, Make You Ready," will begin its tour on April 1 and 2 at Shanghai Grand Theatre, and will go to National Center for Performing Arts in Beijing on April 6. It will continue at Guotai Arts Center in southwest Chongqing city on April 8.

The story centers on Anne, Shakespeare's wife, and takes place on the evening of April 22 and into the morning of April 23, 1616, the day he died at age 52.

The new work was devised by the Guildhall School's Head of Voice and renowned Shakespeare expert Patsy Rodenburg. It was performed in London from March 18 to 23 before touring China.

Guildhall School's new work is a part of Britain's Shakespeare400, a consortium of leading cultural, creative and educational organizations, which will mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 2016.

Different from other traditional Shakespeare's plays, which mostly focus on only one work, the brand-new show is formed by elaborately selected sonnets and plays, and performed by young students of the school.

"Western students are tired of a culture that doesn't seem to care, we need passionate causes and feelings in our lives and Shakespeare provides these desires. Desires of the heart, mind and spirit," said Patsy Rodenburg, one of the world's leading voice and acting coaches, who's also on the board of directors with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

She said that the Guildhall School doesn't train for fame but for artists that care about the world, who want to work in an ensemble and have the courage to use their imagination to be engaged in unselfish and caring work. "I think Chinese and British youth could be most creative in these ideals."