Pericles (Public Acts)
A huge company of all ages from across London joined together with professional artists, to breathe new life into this classic tale in a musical version of Shakespeare’s Pericles.
Booking and details
Olivier Theatre
National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
How far must we travel to come home?
Prince Pericles has everything but understands little. When a reckless act threatens his safety, he must flee his home and take to sea. Reliant on the whims of the fates and the kindness of strangers, Pericles is driven from shore to shore.
Only by reaching the ends of the earth may he finally understand what it means to come home.
A huge company of all ages from across London join together with professional artists to breathe new life into this classic tale in a musical version on the Olivier stage.
Partners
Pericles launched Public Acts, our new initiative to create extraordinary acts of theatre and community. This production marked the centre point of a two-year partnership, building in-depth relationships with eight organisations who deliver visionary work in their communities, together with our founding theatre partner Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.
Public Acts is the National Theatre’s initiative to create extraordinary acts of theatre and community. Public Acts is inspired by Public Works, the Public Theater’s ground-breaking programme in New York.
Partners
Body & Soul, The Bromley by Bow Centre, Coram, DABD, Faith and Belief Forum, Havering Asian Social Welfare Association (HASWA), Open Age and Thames Reach.
Theatre Partner
Production team
Emily Lim
Emily Lim is Director of Public Acts and an associate of the National Theatre.
Chris Bush
Chris Bush is an award-winning playwright, lyricist and theatre-maker.
Jim Fortune
Jim Fortune is an award-winning singer, musician and composer.
Fly Davis
Fly Davis is an award-winning set and costume designer for the stage.
Robby Graham
Robby Graham is a choreographer and director and Artistic Director of Southpaw Dance Company.
Paule Constable
Recent National Theatre includes: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The Confessions, Dixon and Daughters, The Normal Heart, The Visit, or The Old Lady Comes to Call and The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Paul Arditti
Paul Arditti is an associate at the National Theatre.
Tarek Merchant
Tarek Merchant is a composer, musical director and performer, holding a Starred First Class Degree in Music from the University of York and a further First Class Degree in Actor-Musicianship from Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance
Gallery
Press
Interview with director Emily Lim
The world needs this right now: space to unite and connect with one another, to feel like we’re part of something bigger. I hope we send people out feeling empowered, and full of joy.
Interview with composer Jim Fortune
There’s a lyricism and a poetry to the language which, for me, fits nicely with music, and it doesn’t need to be sung music necessarily. I think Shakespeare is pretty much a joy for every composer in this world.
Interview with adaptor Chris Bush
I want people to be uplifted by it, because fundamentally Pericles – or our interpretation – is a story about home and what it means to call somewhere home, or to find your way home.
Interview with community participants
The best theatre is done when people come together and create – acknowledging each other’s humanity.
Our funders
Theatre Nation Partnerships is generously supported by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund and Garfield Weston Foundation.
Public Acts is supported by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The CareTech Charitable Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Mosawi Foundation, The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust and Susan Miller and Byron Grote.
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