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England's first professional run in four hundred years
THE MASSACRE AT PARIS by Christopher Marlowe staged at the site of its first performance in 1593 11 – 29 March 2014 THE ROSE PLAYHOUSE, BANKSIDE after its sell-out run THE MASSACRE RETURNED 7 - 26 October 2014 Marlowe's open-eyed analysis of the murderous collision of politics and religion has lost none of its contemporary relevance or power to shock - nor its ability to find grim humour in a violent world
History and satire, horror-show and political thriller, this is his last, most controversial and most neglected play. At breakneck speed it retells twenty years of the French Wars of Religion, from the cold planning of mass murder, through the shocking events of the notorious 1572 St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, to the poisoning of Charles IX, and the coronation and subsequent assassination of his flamboyant, homosexual brother Henry III. Aided by the Machiavellian Queen Mother, Catherine de Medici, the play’s anti-hero, the villainous Duke of Guise, proves the ultimate Marlovian over-reacher. Just four months after its first performance, Marlowe was murdered by government agents. The following summer, in 1594, The Massacre was the Rose's biggest hit. They said . . .
"It's bloody, gutsy and remorseless... thoughtfully executed...
irresistably enjoyable spectacle" Miranda Fay Thomas **** What's On Stage Full review "Wonderful...imaginative... brilliant...
The Dolphin’s Back has does a great service in proving how effective Massacre is on stage and how its uncompromisingly bleak view of humanity so well suits the present age" **** Elsewhere Full review "Rarely is an Elizabethan tragedy with such a high death toll so much fun... highly recommended for the sheer artistic and directorial ingenuity"
**** thepublicreviews "Bravo to The Dolphin's Back... superb, inspiring and insightful,
not just about Elizabethan times, but our own." ***** Migrant Press Full review "In its own odd way this just might be one of the theatrical events of the year. ...admirably clear... utterly modern... It's a momentous event in London theatre history, and - more than that - it's a hoot."
**** Curtainly "Terrifying... dizzying... relentless... the blackest of black comedies.
It’s a bold statement of intent" Peter Kirwan, Bardathon Full review "incredibly beautiful"
"terrific emotional effect" "sheer terror to experience" "an incredibly clever production" Steve Orman, Early Modern Literary Studies; Sheffield Vol. 18, Iss. 1/2, (2015): 1-4 |
photos: Robert Piwko
The Rose Playhouse, Bankside
11 – 29 March 2014 CAST John Gregor - The Duke of Guise / Jacobin Friar Kristin Milward - Catherine de Medici James Askill - Anjoy, later Henry III Lachlan McCall - King of Navarre John Sandeman - Charles IX of France / Joyeaux / Murderer Beth Park - Margaret of Navarre / Seroune’s wife / Pleshé Frances Marshall - Joan of Navarre / Taleus / Duchess of Guise / Guise’s son David Meyer - Apothecary / Ramus / Surgeon Richard Koslowsky - Lord High Admiral / Seroune / Epernoun Théo Kingshott - Cardinal of Lorainne / Retes / Murderer Adam Cunis - Captain / Mountsorrell / Bartus Ben Revell - Soldier / Gonzago / Cutpurse / Murderer Jamie Sheasby - Condy / Dumaine / Loreine / Mugeroun Directed and Designed by James Wallace Lighting Design - David Meunier-Palmer at Fringehire Fight Director - John Sandeman Stage Manager and Assistant Producer - Alex Pearson The production was revived
at The Rose Playhouse, Bankside 7 - 26 October 2014 John Gregor - The Duke of Guise / Jacobin Friar
Kristin Milward - Catherine de Medici James Askill - Anjoy, later Henry III Rhys Bevan - King of Navarre Howard Horner - Charles IX of France / Cutpurse / Murderer Ella Road - Margaret of Navarre / Seroune’s wife / Pleshé / Guise’s son Beth Eyre - Joan of Navarre / Taleus / Duchess of Guise / Surgeon Richard Koslowsky - Lord High Admiral / Seroune / Epernoun Théo Kingshott - Cardinal of Lorainne / Retes / Murderer David Vaughan Knight - Captain / Mountsorrell / Bartus Neal Gavyn - Soldier / Gonzago / Joyeux / Murderer Ed Barr-Simm - Condy / Dumaine / Loreine / Mugeroun Mathew Lyons - Apothecary / Ramus 
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