Madness in Valencia - Trafalgar Studio 2
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
FOLLOWING its success at the White Bear Theatre, David Johnston’s translation of Lope de Vega’s Madness in Valencia is transferring to the West End’s Trafalgar Studios, where it runs from Tuesday, February 9 to Saturday, March 6, 2010.
Described as a riotous comedy of love and insanity, Madness in Valencia follows what happens when two sane people are mistakenly incarcerated in a lunatic asylum where, in the midst of the madness, they fall in love.
For the West End transfer Tom Watt joins the company as Sancho. Although Watt will always be remembered as EastEnders‘ Lofty Holloway, a role he played from 1985 to 1988, he has appeared in a number of other TV shows and films, including South of the Border, And The Nightingale Sang, Boon and Patriot Games. And his stage credits include the one-man show Fever Pitch.
He is also a sports commentator and has presented for Channel 4, Radio 1, Radio 3, Radio 5 Live, talkSPORT and BBC London Radio.
Simon Evans (founder of Black and White Rainbow, the company presenting Madness in Valencia) directs a cast that also includes Kathryn Beaumont (as Erifila), William Belchambers (Floriano), James Canvin (Martin), Jonathan Christie (Valerio), Andrew David (Prince Reinero), David Frias-Robles (Leonato/Liberto), Laurence Fuller (Pisano), Alicia Grace Turrell (Fedra), David Wade (Thomas), and Elizabeth Webster (Laida).
Lope de Vega (1562 – 1635) is widely considered one of the most important (and prolific) writers in Spain’s literary history. He is said to have written around 2000 plays of which around 500 have survived and around 80 are considered masterpieces. His most significant works include The Dog in the Manger, Fuente Ovejuna, The Foolish Lady and The Sheep Well.
This new production of Madness in Valencia is the first time the play has been produced in the UK since Jonathan Mumby’s production at the RSC in 2001.
Founded in 2008, Black and White Rainbow’s past work includes The Bacchae/Dracula/The New Magic Show (Edinburgh Fringe, 2007), Pause to Wonder (Hen and Chickens, 2008) and their highly acclaimed version of The Misanthrope (The White Bear Theatre, 2009).
Madness in Valencia is designed by Kate Matthews, with lighting by Tom White and sound by Jonas Roebuck.
Tickets: Monday: £17.50, Tuesday to Saturday: £22.50, concessions and groups: £17.50.
Time: 7.45pm plus Thursday and Saturday matinees at 3pm.
Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (including interval).
For more information call the box office on 0844 871 7632 or visit the Website