The Revenger's Tragedy - National Theatre (Olivier)
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
PART of the Travelex £10 season, Thomas Middleton’s The Revenger’s Tragedy opens in the Olivier Theatre on June 4, 2008 (previews from May 27) before continuing in repertoire.
As he holds the skull of his beloved, who was poisoned for rejecting the licentious old Duke’s advances, Vindice plots the Duke’s grotesque murder. But in a court where adultery, rape and incest are the norm, his vengeance does not stop there and an orgy of ritualistic, even playful, bloodletting follows.
The Revenger’s Tragedy is described as a ferociously dark play set in an avaricious world that seethes with vice and retribution.
Melly Still directs a cast led by Rory Kinnear (as Vindice) whose credits include Philistines, Southwark Fair and his Olivier award-winning performance in The Man of Mode (National Theatre); Mary Stuart (Donmar Warehouse); Festen (Almeida Theatre) and Laertes in Hamlet (Old Vic).
He is joined in the cast by Adjoa Andoh, Tom Andrews, Ken Bones, Donatella Cabras, Billy Carter, Elliot Cowan, Conor Doyle, Barbara Flynn, John Heffernan, Peter Hinton, Derek Howard, Pieter Lawman, Jane Leaney, Tommy Luther, Katherine Manners, Rob McNeill, Pamela Merrick, Simon Nagra, Rick Nodine, Jamie Parker, Richard Shanks, Ross Waiton and Lizzie Winkler.
Still’s directorial credits include Coram Boy (National Theatre); Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Beasts and Beauties (Bristol Old Vic); and Midnight’s Children and Tales from Ovid (co-director) for the RSC.
The Revenger’s Tragedy is designed by Melly Still and Ti Green, with lighting by Paul Anderson, music by Adrian Sutton, and sound by Paul Arditti.
NB: Suitable for ages 15 and over.
Travelex continue their sponsorship of £10 Tickets for a sixth year. Half of all the tickets for the 2008 Travelex £10 shows in the Olivier Theatre are £10 (the rest are £15 and £30).