Shakespeare’s Globe unveils 2004 season

Romeo and Juliet will be an original practices production exploring clothing, music, dance and settings from Shakespeare's time, and following the success of the all-female Richard lll and The Taming of the Shrew this year.

Much Ado About Nothing will be performed by a company of women players. Measure for Measure and Romeo and Juliet will be performed by companies of men and women players.

Throughout the 2004 theatre season Shakespeare's Globe will be working with the emotional support charity Samaritans, helping to raise awareness of their work and staging fundraising events during their 50th anniversary year.

Commenting on this initiative, Globe artistic director Mark Rylance said: "Working with Samaritans, who respond every minute of every day and night to those of us who face in isolation some obstacle to our emotional well-being, we at the Globe have found a partner in our own work to gather people together in a beneficial space of language and communication."