“Whether we fall by ambition, blood or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust.”
The Duchess of Malfi opens Friday 30th October
One of the most celebrated plays of the Jacobean era, a secret marriage provokes fury, espionage and bloody murder in John Webster’s tragedy, ‘The Duchess of Malfi’.
Following on from her critically acclaimed roles in ‘Henry VI’ Parts 1, 2 and 3 as well as ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Shakespeare’s Globe, rising star Beatriz Romilly plays the title role.
When the Duchess of Malfi marries below her class, her brothers – a ferocious Duke and ice-cold Cardinal – set a dangerous spy against her. Their scheme spirals out of control until a nightmare engulfs them all.
Fiona Buffini – Associate Director of Nottingham Playhouse – directs this blood-soaked masterpiece following her critically acclaimed productions of ‘Time and the Conways’ and ‘A Skull in Connemara’.
She said: “The Duchess of Malfi shows us human beings at their most corrupt and their most noble – it is both a love story and a nightmare, a dark view of the world and an inspiration.”
‘The Duchess of Malfi’ is the third main stage production in Nottingham Playhouse’s Conspiracy season, following on from the return of the Olivier Award –nominated co-production ‘1984’ and the regional premiere of the award-winning ‘The Rubenstein Kiss’ by James Phillips. Artistic Director, Giles Croft said: “Our Conspiracy Season explores our society using the theme of tension between the individual and the state. This resonates so strongly when mass surveillance is at an all-time high and individuals are in danger of losing their right to have a say. To be working on such a range of extraordinary stories, all of which speak to one of the overriding concerns of the day, makes for a thought-provoking programme of work through the autumn and into 2016.”
CAST
Delio Peter Bray
The Cardinal Patrick Brennan
Roderigo/Servant/Cast Steve Conlin
Castruccio/Armed Man/Cast Jim Findley
Cariola Lisa Howard
Ferdinand Chris Jared
The Duchess Of Malfi Beatriz Romilly
Julia Rebecca Sarker
Antonio Jamie Satterthwaite
Bosola Matthew Wait
Silvio/Doctor/Cast Chris Wollaton
Nottingham Playhouse now offers free programmes to all its audience members for all in-house and co-production shows. It also offers a Pay What You Can scheme, for one performance of each of its main stage shows, in order to reach out to members of the public who might not ordinarily be able to afford a visit to the theatre.
SEASON LISTINGS:
THE DUCHESS OF MALFI
Written by John Webster and Directed by Fiona Buffini
Friday 30 October to Saturday 14 November 2015
DICK WHITTINGTON
Written and Directed by Kenneth Alan Taylor
Friday 27th November to Saturday 16th January
ANY MEANS NECESSARY
Written by Kefi Chadwick and Directed by Giles Croft
Friday 5 February to Saturday 20 February 2016
BOX OFFICE INFORMATION:
Box office 0115 941 9419
East Midlands Theatre. 