Purgatorio - Arcola Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
A NEW play by Ariel Dorfman, Purgatorio, receives its UK premiere at north London’s Arcola Theatre where it runs for a limited season – from January 18 (previews from January 15) to February 9, 2008.
Purgatorio is described as an intense, poetic enquiry into the themes of forgiveness and retribution. In the process, it questions whether trust and redemption are really possible after violence and betrayal?
Daniele Guerra directs the actors Adjoa Andoh and Patrick Baladi.
Andoh’s recent theatre credits include His Dark Materials and Stuff Happens (National Theatre), Pericles and The Dispute (Lyric Hammersmith) and The Vagina Monologues (Old Vic). On television, she has appeared in Casualty and EastEnders.
Baladi’s theatre credits include Albert Speer, Finding the Sun, Battle Royal and Mother Courage and Her Children (all at the National); while on television, he has appeared in The Office, Diana: Last Days of a Princess (as Dodi), No Heroics and the forthcoming Mistresses for BBC.
Dorfman was born in Buenos Aires but later became a citizen of Chile. His plays include Reader, Widows (co-written with Tony Kushner and currently premiering in New York), and Death and the Maiden which was adapted for film by Roman Polanski and starred Sigourney Weaver and Ben Kingsley.
Sets and lighting for Purgatorio are by Charles Edwards, with costumes by Jon Morrell, who jointly won an Olivier Award in 2006 for Jenufa.
Tickets: £15, £10 concessions.
For more information call the box office on 020 7503 1646 or visit the website.