If we do meet again, why, we shall smile…

The Royal Shakespeare Company has confirmed new performance dates for its previously announced productions – now to take place in the winter of 2021.

Productions will include new family musical The Magician's Elephant by Nancy Harris and Marc Teitler, based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo and directed by Sarah Tipple; The Wars of the Roses – all three parts of Henry VI across two performances, directed by Owen Horsley with Gregory Doran; and a First Encounters with Shakespeare production of Twelfth Night to be edited and directed by Robin Belfi eld and to tour schools across England.

There is also an ambition to open this Winter 2020 with rescheduled performances of The Winter's Tale and The Comedy of Errors. Both productions were in rehearsal and due to open in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre this spring.

For bookings made throughout 2020 for future performances, audiences can book their tickets with confi dence knowing that if they are unable to attend a performance for any reason, they can exchange their tickets up to 2 hours before the performance or event start time, at no extra cost.

Tickets can be exchanged for another performance with seats at the same price or for an RSC Gift Voucher which can be used as part or full payment against future ticket purchases or memberships, ether online, in person or over the telephone. RSC Gift Vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Unless a performance is cancelled, tickets cannot be refunded once a purchase has been made.

For more information about all performances and to book tickets, go to www.rsc.org.uk

O this learning, what a thing it is!

RSC actors, staff and alumni shared their expertise with more than 100,000 young people as part of #RSCHomeworkHelp, and the company has now made clips available for more students to benefit from.

As part of the campaign, David Tennant responded to a question about his favourite Hamlet soliloquy; actor, director and writer Adjoa Andoh discussed some of the ways in which Shakespeare can speak to us today, as we navigate how to live in the world amidst the global pandemic, Black Lives Matter and environmental emergencies; Paapa Essiedu gave students a masterclass in making characters their own; star of the Harry Potter films David Bradley shared his tips about how to get into theatre; and RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran gave insights into the downfall of Richard II and the complex morality of Measure for Measure.

From questions about acting and directing to the life and times of Shakespeare, his comedies, histories and tragedies, topics covered as part of Homework Help have been extremely diverse; from ‘Did Shakespeare have a happy childhood? to ‘Was Richard III truly villainous’, ‘Why are genders reversed in productions and, does it work?, ‘Are female characters dressed as boys ever convincing?’, ‘If Julius Caesar was a radio play, how would you stage the assassination scene?’, ‘Why does Romeo make such terrible decisions?’, ‘Did Shakespeare write in posh or colloquial English?’, ‘Why should students study Macbeth?, ‘Which sister in King Lear is worse, Goneril or Regan?’, ‘Did Shakespeare ever visit Scotland?’, ‘Why was he obsessed with fairies?’ and ‘Was William Shakespeare really a woman?’

Since launching in May 2020, the #RSCHomeworkHelp initiative has received over five hundred submissions from young people studying Shakespeare in the UK and around the world, from Australia to New York, Indianapolis and Tanzania.

The RSC has a number of existing resources that can be used to support learning in school or at home, including:

• Shakespeare Learning Zone – games, videos, timelines, character, plot summaries and more help to unlock the plays: rsc.org.uk/shakespeare-learning-zone
• Live Lessons – The RSC's Live Lessons on Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet are available to watch and take part in at any time. There are also a number of Primary and Secondary lessons co-produced by the RSC and the BBC that can be watched at any time.
• The RSC YouTube channel contains a selection of educational videos including introductions to language terms such as iambic pentameter, actor-led tutorials exploring the techniques they use to get to grips with a text and full online performances including Tim Crouch's I, Cinna.
• Teacher resources are free to download from the RSC website including teacher packs by play and Key Stage.
• Home-educators can also access up to seventeen RSC productions in partnership with Digital Theatre+ alongside supporting resources including backstage insights, practitioner interviews, written analysis and over 450+ productions of the world's finest theatre.

You can view all clips from #RSCHomeworkHelp at www.rsc.org.uk/education/about-rsc-education/home-learning-with-the-rsc/homework-help