| Five plays explore identity, ambition, and the contradictions of being human Richmond Shakespeare is proud to announce its 27th Season lineup of classic and contemporary plays. Season 27 will include Witch, King James, Macbeth, As You Like It, and The Importance of Being Earnest. Season memberships are now available at www.richmondshakespeare.org. “This season offers a selection of plays that are about identity,” remarks artistic director James Ricks. “This sounds like a rather mundane topic – but I think one of the most complicated things about being human is our constant negotiation with our own identities. In our lives we adopt roles, whether they are social, cultural, gendered, political or moral – to gain freedom, power, love… And through that negotiation we reveal deeper truths about ourselves. More poignantly, we reveal contradictions within ourselves. How do we see ourselves? How do others see ourselves? And how does that inform the choices we make? Each of these plays delves into that endless negotiation. Sometimes horrifically, sometimes hilariously. I’m thrilled about all of these titles and am excited to get to work with our amazing community of theatre artists.” Managing Director Jase Smith Sullivan adds, “We are thrilled to be returning to our outstanding venues at Dominion Energy Center’s Gottwald Playhouse and Agecroft Hall. We are also excited to expand our partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre this season through a special mini-residency featuring two productions in their Theatre Gym. With the recent loss of city grant funding that helped offset rental expenses, we are especially grateful to VA Rep for their generous support in providing the Theatre Gym at no cost. From the versatile Gottwald, to the intimate Theatre Gym black box, to the stately outdoor courtyard at beautiful Agecroft Hall, each space offers a unique theatrical experience. With our diverse season and venues, we truly have something for everyone to enjoy.” MORE INFO |
| WITCH By Jen Silverman | October 23 – November 9, 2025 | Theatre Gym A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a “witch” and cast out by the town—but her soul is not so easily bought. As the devil returns to convince her—and returns again—unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed. An inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama, this sharp, subversive fable explores what our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by. |
| KING JAMES By Rajiv Joseph | January 15 – February 1, 2026 | Theatre Gym “King” LeBron James’s years playing in Cleveland bring promise, prosperity, and renewal to a city in desperate need of all three. His tenure also unites Shawn and Matt in an unlikely bond forged by fandom. Over twelve years, from LeBron’s rookie season to an NBA Championship, the men navigate their turbulent friendship through their shared love of basketball—and the endless, amiable arguments that erupt from that love. A clever comedy, King James is an intimate exploration of the place sports occupy in our lives and relationships. |
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| MACBETH By William Shakespeare | March 27 – April 12, 2026 | Gottwald Playhouse Ambition runs red in this gripping tale of power, prophecy, and betrayal. When Macbeth receives a haunting prediction from three mysterious witches, he and his wife set forth on a bloody path toward the throne of Scotland—no matter the cost. As guilt and paranoia unravel their minds, the natural world turns upside down, and fate tightens its grip. One of Shakespeare’s most thrilling tragedies, Macbeth is a chilling exploration of unchecked ambition and the price of moral compromise. With its ghostly visions, supernatural forces, and creeping dread, this dark masterpiece will leave you breathless long after the final blow is struck. |