The Royal Shakespeare Company will conduct its first of three performance cycles starting tomorrow at 11 a.m. with the first act of "Henry VI."

In addition to watching the RSC performances, the University community can hear the viewpoints of key people behind the scenes in two events scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday in Rackham Auditorium. English Prof. Ralph Williams will interview Michael Boyd, RSC associate artistic director and director of the "Henry VI"/"Richard III" tetralogy. That will be followed by University President Lee Bollinger interviewing RSC Artistic Director Adrian Noble at 3 p.m.

"He and I came to know one another just about a year ago now, when RSC was in town," said Williams. "We became so interested in one another"s ideas and minds, and he invited me to England to collaborate on his plays. It"s been a marvelous experience."

Williams said that his interview would last 30 to 40 minutes, with the remaining time for audience questions.

"I have a huge respect for Michael Boyd he is a genius at what he does. We will talk for 30 to 40 minutes about his sense of the plays" relation to Shakespeare"s time and our time, his marvelous troupe," Williams said.

RSC"s residency is the first in a five-year partnership launched between the company, the University and the University Musical Society.

Williams said he hopes the collaboration will continue beyond five years.

"The Royal Shakespeare Society is arguably the world"s best. This is a situation in which Ann Arbor is doing something unique," he said.

Referring to Bollinger"s expected questions, he said, "My understanding is that President Bollinger will be asking about the nature of this collaboration between two great institutions and what shape such a transatlantic collaboration will take in the coming years."

The RSC will perform in three cycles, the first starting with the three parts of the play "Henry VI" running all day Saturday, concluding with a performance of "Richard III" on Sunday. The two remaining cycles are scheduled for next week with the final performance March 18.

Williams said more than 75 educational events are scheduled during the residency.

"There is an enormously rich and complex set of offerings," he said. "I am also doing a course in connection with these plays. Next week some of the actors are coming to the class."

The residency is not limited to the University, and events are scheduled at other local educational institutions.

"The residency is focused at the University of Michigan but open to the entire community and spreading to other public institutions around town," Williams said.

The RSC has tentative plans to do two more performances at the University in the next five years.

"The plausible schedule is for RSC to perform on campus in 2003 and 2005," said Williams.