The Royal Shakespeare Company presents...

The RSC brings four new plays as part of Midsummer Mischief by Alice Birch, E. V. Crowe, Timberlake Wertenbaker and Abi Zakarian and directed by Jo McInnes and Erica Whyman to the Royal Court Theatre. The writers had the famous quote by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, “Well-behaved women seldom make history” as an initial provocation and each writer has responded to this line in a unique and distinctive way. The Ant and the Cicada by Timberlake Wertenbaker Revolt. She Said. Revolt again by Alice Birch directed by Erica Whyman 15 July, 7.45pm & 17 July, 1.45pm I can hear you by E.V. Crowe This is not an exit by Abi Zakarian directed by Jo McInnes 16 and 17 July, 7.45pm Jerwood Theatre Upstairs The cast includes Robert Boulter, John Bowe, Scarlett Brookes, Ruth Gemmell, Julie Legrand and Mimi Ndiweni. The Ant and the Cicada by Timberlake Wertenbaker A mysterious investor has set his sights on a prime piece of Greek real estate. Owned by two sisters whose lives and beliefs are at odds, and with debts rising all the time, the property's future is uncertain. In a Greek tragedy, everybody loses. Through the struggle between two very different sisters for control of their family home, Timberlake Wertenbaker's new play explores why we are willing to let the home of art and democracy crumble as the rest of Europe looks on. Timberlake's plays for the Royal Court include Abel's Sister, The Grace of Mary Traverse, Our Country's Good, Three Birds Alighting on a Field, The Break of Day and Credible Witness. Her other plays include The Love of the Nightingale (RSC); After Darwin (Hampstead); Our Ajax (Southwark Playhouse). She has translated and adapted more than 20 plays from French, Italian and Greek. Revolt. She said. Revolt again by Alice Birch You are expected to behave… Use the right words Act appropriately Don't break the rules Just behave This play is not well behaved Alice Birch examines the language, behaviour and forces that shape women in the 21st century and asks what's stopping us from doing something truly radical to change them. Alice received the Arts Foundation Award for Playwriting in 2014 and was shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize 2013. Her plays include Open Court – Soap Opera (part of Royal Court's Open Court Season); Little on the Inside (part of Almeida Festival 2013); Life for Beginners and Many Moons. After the performance at the Royal Court. Alice's play will run at Latitude Festival. I can hear you by EV Crowe Tommy is dead. It's always tragic when they die young. People have posted loads of nice stuff on his Facebook page. His sister Ruth has returned for the funeral and wants to get it just right. Proper cutlery and a good spread. The send-off he deserved, and certainly better than they managed when mum died. The following Sunday Ruth's plans to leave again are interrupted as the doorbell rings and in walks a still very much dead, Tommy. E V Crowe's naturalistic supernatural play examines what the possibilities are for the women in Tommy's family, and questions if it's as easy for everyone to reveal what it is they want. E. V Crowe's plays at the Royal Court include Hero and Kin, for which she was shortlisted for Most Promising Playwright at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Her other credits include Virgin at the Watford Palace Theatre and Liar, Liar at the Unicorn Theatre. This is not an exit by Abi Zakarian One day Nora decides she can't have it all; where would she put it? Desperate to fight but not knowing how or against what, she attempts to navigate the difficult terrain of womanhood; but certain others have different ideas... This new play is a funny and ferocious drama about the absurdity at the heart of modern womanhood, and what really stands in the way of fulfilment. Abi is the author of six full length plays including A Thousand Yards and Swifter, Higher, Stronger; she is one of the playwrights-in-residence for the Schoolwrights scheme in East London. The plays were commissioned as part of the RSC's first Midsummer Mischief festival, taking place in The Other Place. RSC's BP 16-25 year old £5 tickets are available for all performances. (Limited availability. ID required. Max two tickets per booking.) !/files/images/applicationfiles/1000.9952.RSCLogoWeb/175x135.bywidth.jpg!