Bright Lucifer - White Bear Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
THE White Bear Theatre, recently reopened following a £1.3m redevelopment, is presenting Brice Stratford’s professional world premiere production of Orson Welles first play, Bright Lucifer.
The first in the White Bear’s Lost Classics Project, it runs from November 10 (previews from November 8) to December 3, 2016.
Jack Flynn’s in movies – “creature features” – quite the celebrity, as far as men in rubber masks go. Celebrity enough that when his wife disappears in a flurry of sex scandals and drug parties, his face ends up on front pages. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, Jack retreats from the world with his brother Bill to an isolated family cabin, planning a long weekend of whisky, fishing and brotherly love.
All doesn’t go to plan. As the brothers descend into madness and paranoia, only one question matters: who or what is Eldred Brand?
Orson Welles began writing Bright Lucifer in 1932, at just 16 years of age. His first solo-authored work, the script flirts with incest, paedophilia, whisky, God, the Devil, death, illusion, monsters, murder, love, hate, and everything in-between. Only recently rediscovered, Bright Lucifer has never had a full run or been professionally produced; this will be its premiere, with the blessing of the Welles Estate.
Bright Lucifer is presented by Brice Stratford and Mihara Donegan Productions Ltd, in association with the White Bear and the Lost Classics Project.
Brice Stratford founded the Owle Schreame theatre company in 2008, with whom he produced, directed and performed in the world premieres of Honoria and Mammon by James Shirley (1659) and the Unfortunate Mother (1640); the first uncut, modern performances of Bussy D’Ambois by George Chapman (1603) and Ralph Roister Doister by Nicholas Udall (1553); and the first major revival of the illegal 17th century “droll” comedies at the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Stratford won an Off-West End Award in 2013 and became Director of the Lost Classics Project at the re-opening of the White Bear in 2016.
Bright Lucifer is directed by Brice Stratford and biographical consultant is Simon Callow.
Ticket: £15, £12 concessions – available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/.
Times: Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm; Sunday matinees at 4pm.