English Touring Theatre have announced a new co-production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, previewing from 1 September at Shakespeare North Playhouse before heading out on a UK and international tour.

The production will be directed by ETT’s Artistic Director Richard Twyman, and will visit Northern Stage, Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Dubai Opera House, Cambridge Arts Theatre and The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, with further dates to be announced.

Twyman said: “It brings us great excitement to announce a new production of Macbeth from ETT this Autumn with our partners Northern Stage, Shakespeare North and Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg. Following the success of Othello, which toured extensively in the UK and internationally between 2017-19, we’re looking forward to bringing Shakespeare’s iconic play of bloodshed, corruption, and a society uprising against tyranny to audiences internationally and across the UK. 

“We’re delighted to be working with our co-producers and touring internationally for the first time since the pandemic, bringing this bold retelling to our ever-growing world audience. In our first partnership with Shakespeare North, we’re looking forward to connecting with new audiences in their beautiful new space, continuing ETT’s mission of touring world class contemporary work to local communities.”

Other additions to their programming for 2023 include touring productions of The Good Person of Szechwan and I, Daniel Blake.

The Good Person of Szechwan has now announced the full cast for the run, which will begin at Sheffield Theatres on 11 March. It will then transfer to the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London. This 80th anniversary staging is translated by Nina Segal and directed by Sheffield Theatres’ Associate Artistic Director Anthony Lau. The cast includes Nick Blakely, Melody Brown, Aiden Cheng, Jon Chew, Callum Coates, Togo Igawa, Camille Mallet de Chauny, Suni La, Louise Mai Newberry, Tim Samuels, Ami Tredrea and Leo Wan.

I, Daniel Blake will open at Northern Stage in May and will run until 10 June before transferring to Birmingham Rep. It is co-produced between ETT, Birmingham Rep, Oldham Coliseum, and tiny dragon Productions in association with Cardboard Citizens.

Further programming includes the second season of ETT’s writing podcast F**ked Up Bedtime Stories (for Adults). There will be seven new episodes from writers including Chris Bush, Ella Hickson and Simon Stephens, and performers on the podcast will include Maxine Peake, Stephen Mangan and Tamara Lawrence.

Mixed, their monologue project interrogating the characterisation of mixed-race identity in contemporary Britain, also continues, with writers including Javaad Alipoor and Sabrina Mahfouz.

ETT have also announced the third year of its flagship playwriting programme, Nationwide Voices, in collaboration with new partner companies: Birmingham Rep, Manchester Royal Exchange and tiata fahodzi.

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