In fact many of the productions aren't what you would expect of the RSC, but that's the point. Seventeen of the shows are from outside the UK, some are existing stagings and some brand new.

From South Africa comes the Baxter Theatre Centre's Hamlet, starring John Kani and directed by Janet Suzman. There'll be an all-Indian cast in A Midsummer Night's Dream. There's a version of Richard III with Kuwaiti actors, set in 1980s Iraq. The Berliner Ensemble brings its version of Richard II from the Spree to the Avon. The Two Gentleman of Verona are coming over from Rio de Janiero. Ten of the productions will be in languages other than English, at least in part.

It's an extraordinary undertaking and a huge gamble by the RSC under its leader Michael Boyd. But the organisation needs to show it's confident and ambitious: it's only a few years since the RSC's very future seemed imperilled.

A disastrous decision by Boyd's predecessor to abandon its permanent home in London made the Company seem a bit irrelevant. Energy levels dropped. Shakespeare was being done better elsewhere,mainly in smaller theatres. Well for the next year the RSC will offer a celebration of Shakespeare like no other anywhere and they're inviting the world's performers and directors and musicians to partake of the feast.

works of verse
pieces of writing which are arranged in lines e.g. a poem

sonnets
poems which always have 14 lines

undertaking
job

that's the point
that's the reason

stagings
productions

cast
actors

gamble
risk

Boyd's predecessor
the person who had the job before Mr Boyd

imperilled
in danger

partake of the feast
enjoy being part of the perfomances