What puts the international into the York International Shakespeare Festival?

Principal programmer and co-director Philip Parr, of festival partners Parrabbola, says: "If there’s an overall drive for the programme of the second edition of this festival, it’s been to explore and bring to York audiences the exciting work that's being made across the world and closer to home, which uses Shakespeare as a starting point for exploring contemporary and local situations.

"When young international theatre makers begin to explore what Shakespeare says to them, and to collide it with contemporary performance practice, then they make exciting and provocative theatre for our time. Travelling in the UK and in Europe and more widely, I’m amazed by the extraordinary range and quality of productions that I see, and I want audiences in the city – and from further afield – to see the best of this work, which we’re presenting across the festival.

Titus Theatre Group, from Iran, in Coriolanus. The company members have been declined visa entry to Britain for the York International Shakespeare Festival

Missing from the festival, however, will be the Titus Theatre Group, from Iran, after the company members were refused visa entry to Britain.

In their absence, Hamed Asgharzadeh and Javad Ebrahiminezhad's stage adaptation of Coriolanus will be shown in a screen version instead at Temple Hall, York St John University, on Monday with free admission and an introduction by two York St John lecturers.

The group, from Tehran, comprises Iranian performing arts students and alumni, whose work seeks to re-invent classic works of literature in the context of the present state of affairs in the Middle East and, in particular, in Iran, in this case by combining the dramatic elements of Shakespeare's bloodiest play with the individual experiences of the performers.

Hamed Asgharzadeh, from the group, had been due to lead a Tuesday workshop in collaboration with York St John's drama department. It will still go ahead in his absence, with contributions from the York St John's own final-year student production of Coriolanus at the Studio, York St John, at 11am and 1pm.

From the Hungarian State Theatre, based in the Romanian city of Timisoara, comes 7/7, The Dance of Life in Seven Steps, performed in the York Theatre Royal Studio on Monday and Tuesday at 7.45pm with choreography by Baczo Tunde, video projection by Balazs Klara and music written and played live by Cari Tibor.

"This is a dance theatre reworking of Jacques' famous Seven Ages of Man speech in As You Like It, from a female perspective," says Philip. "It’s beautiful – with original live music – and life affirming, reminding us that each of Shakespeare’s Seven Ages has qualities to be enjoyed."

EKIPA Theatre, from Poland, in Waiting For Othello

From Poland, EKIPA Theatre presents Waiting For Othello (also called In Search Of Othello) in the Theatre Royal Studio on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.45pm. "The play explores what’s it like to be a young black Pole, when surely Othello is the one role you have to feel completely entitled to play?" says Philip.

In a comedy about tolerance, respect and patriotism, with roots in Shakespeare, Samuel Beckett and clowning, two half-African, half-European actors meet at auditions for the role of Othello, Both are children of immigrants and both are looking for their identity, split between two continents and cultures.

Directed by Jan Naturski, Waiting For Othello asks: When is the colour of our skin a problem? Likewise, when is it an advantage? "The answer is hard to define: as hard as the role of Othello, which for our characters is a dream, but also a curse," says Jan.

An Australian team has created Parrabbola's festival piece, Henry V [Man and Monarch], a solo exploration of Henry V through Shakespeare's words in Henry IV Parts One and Two, Henry V and Henry VI. Performed by award winning Australian actor Brett Brown, the solo show will be staged in the Theatre Royal Studio next Friday at 7.45pm and next Saturday at 1pm and 7.45pm.

"Shockingly appropriate to the current day, this production exposes the frailties behind this most popular theatrical king and highlights his calculated political manipulation of his situation," says Philip [Parr], Parrabbola's artistic director. "Resonances to current leaders and situations, particularly Brexit, are entirely intentional and made more striking through the use of Shakespearean text."

Australian actor Brett Brown in Parrabbola's Henry V (Man & Monarch)

Alongside the international guests, the festival will showcase similar theatrical approaches by British companies, with a particular focus on highlighting work being made in York. Look out for Bronzehead Theatre presenting Henry IV as a wake in the Eagle and Child pub and Re:Verse Theatre performing Ben Jonson's Volpone as a mask play at the Rowntree Park amphitheatre.

From Bradford, Tribe Theatre present scenes from Darokhand, a Mughal reworking of Shakespearean characters; Hampshire company Grist To The Mill look at the aftermath of The Merchant Of Venice in Gratiano, set in Fascist Italy.

"Fun for all the family is guaranteed with The Handlebards' production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on and off bicycles at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall," says Philip. "With just four actors playing all the characters, this is bound to be a mad romp through the play.

"And before all the festival's evening performances, York Shakespeare Project are taking audiences on a Sonnet Walk through the city, where, over the course of an hour, you’ll hear a range of sonnets performed live ‘on location’ and where the setting will surely add yet another mood to Shakespeare’s glorious words.

Rebecca Lee, as the Friar, and Stuart Wilde, as Romeo, in The Watermill Theatre's Romeo + Juliet. Picture: Philip Tull

"All this, of course, alongside two cracking productions in the York Theatre Royal main house, where the festival hosts music-driven productions of Twelfth Night and Romeo + Juliet from The Watermill Theatre."

A special feature of the festival is the partnership with the University of York. "Judith Buchanan, director of the university's Humanities Research Centre, has brought together academics to explore the plays and to introduce specific productions," says Philip. "An undoubted highlight is an exhibition of Danish Hamlets, direct from Helsingoer (Elsinore), which is being hosted at the university.

"There’s a range of film interpretations, and a Shakespeare inspired club night with an innovative blend of music and Shakespearean inspiration. From The Globe in London, we’re delighted to present The Complete Walk – short films of each of the 37 plays – screened over two days on the Theatre Royal patio. Oh, and we’ll host a two day meeting of the members of the European Shakespeare Festivals Network. All in a week!"

Summing up #YorkShakes17, as the event is also known, Philip says: "In programming the festival, I’ve been seeking to create a week in which the works of Shakespeare and these immensely varied interpretations ‘jump out’ at audiences from every side. Where we celebrate the amazing strength of Shakespeare’s writing, make new discoveries, and are excited by interpretations that make us look afresh at work we think we know. And where we celebrate the glorious ‘internationalness’ of this greatest of writers."

Full details of the festival can be found at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/list/yisf17.php#.WQrnafkrLcu