Titus Andronicus

The play about the fictional Roman general Titus Andronicus is thought to be Shakespeare’s first tragedy, and is his most violent work. It is a story about revenge and cruelty set during the latter days of the Roman Empire, which shocked and fascinated audiences since its first performance in 1594. This highly physical take on Shakespeare’s tragedy uses original as well as new text and is directed by New York City-based theatre artist Jung Han Kim, whose unique style will shape his interpretation of Shakespeare’s bloodiest play.

Director Jung Han Kim will devise Shakespeare’s classic with an international cast from three different continents. “I am interested in exploring what Shakespeare truly wanted to tell the audience through this cruel story, and discover its deeper meaning“, says Kim, “We will not only visualize but put breath and movement on the text to share what we felt when facing this play“. South Korean theatre artist Kim trained with renowned Living Theatre in New York and recently wrote and directed the play “Q“, which opened this month at Art One Theatre in Seoul to critical acclaim.

“I am excited to bring Jung Han Kim’s work and his very own take on Shakespeare to London“ says Time Zone Theatre’s artistic director Pamela Schermann, “and vice versa to present our production of Othello to an American audience in New York City. The aim of our Contemporary Shakespeare season is to explore what Shakespeare means nowadays in different parts of the world and to celebrate its ongoing relevance for artists worldwide.“ Schermann’s contemporary adaptation of Othello, set in the City of London, played at the Rose Playhouse last year. The show currently tours in England and will return to the Rose Playhouse for one night only on 24th July before its run in New York City at Theatrelab this August.

Titus Andronicus is part of Time Zone Theatre's Contemporary Shakespeare season, a project that brings together artists from different countries to present Shakespeare’s plays in London and New York City this summer.