Past Marlowe Productions

Woodcut from Title Page of Edward theSecond (1594 Quarto)

Edward II

This is an archive of past productions of Marlowe's play Edward the Second (including adaptations) from 2008 onwards that have all finished. The details and review links may still be of interest.

Edward II by York Shakespeare Project at Theatre@41 - 2023

Edward II - York Shakespeare Project [2023]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Dates: Tuesday 17 October to Saturday 21 October 2023.
  • Performance Times: Evenings 19:30; Matinee at 14:30 on Saturday 21 October.
  • Venue: John Cooper Studio, Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York YO31 7PB. [Map]
  • Tickets: Priced £15 or £12 concessions (plus 10% booking fee) available online. [Booking Info]
  • Reviews: Reviews Hub; Charles Hutchinson.
  • Summary: York Shakespeare Project presents Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe and directed by Tom Straszewski, with Jack Downey as King Edward, Danae Artega Hernandez as Queen Isabella and James Lee as Gaveston. "Edward II is king at last. Determined to shower his loved ones with gifts, he summons his exiled lover, Gaveston. With King, court, and country intoxicated by their passions, the Queen takes her own lover and the nation is torn apart in a merciless divorce. Their child watches from the shadows, desperate to mend his broken family and nation – or bring them to heel. This is a play about power and love – who has it, who seeks it, and who suffers for it. Christopher Marlowe's poetic masterpiece marks York Shakespeare Project's exciting first venture into the plays of Shakespeare's contemporaries."
  • Website Links: York Shakespeare Project presents Edward II at Theatre@41 in York | Interview with Director Tom Straszewski.
Lessons in Love & Violence at the Zurich Opernhaus - 2023

Lessons in Love & Violence [2023]

  • Opera: Lessons in Love & Violence
  • Date: Seven performances on various dates between Sunday 21 May and Sunday 11 June 2023.
  • Performance Times: Variously 14:00, 19:00 or 20:00. Introduction 45 minutes before the performance. In English.
  • Venue: Opernhaus Zürich, Sechseläutenplatz 1, CH-8008 Zürich. [Map]
  • Tickets: Priced CHF 24-230 available online or from the Box Office (+41 44 268 66 66).
  • Reviews: BachTrack; Seen & Heard International.
  • Summary: The Opernhaus Zürich presents Lessons in Love & Violence, an opera with music by George Benjamin, libretto by Martin Crimp, conducted by Ilan Volkov and directed by Evgeny Titov, based on the play Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe, with Lauri Vasar as King Edward, Jeanine De Bique as Queen Isabella, Björn Bürger as Piers Gaveston, and Mark Milhofer as Mortimer. "An opera by leading English composer George Benjamin whose works have been lauded worldwide, and his regular artistic partner Martin Crimp. Benjamin's pieces of musical theater exemplify a psychologically precise, classical approach to literary-dramatic material. We present the Swiss premiere of his most recent opera at the Opernhaus Zürich, Lessons in Love & Violence, which premiered at London's Royal Opera House in 2018. The source material stems from Christopher Marlowe and his play Edward II, which Crimp adapted for the opera. At the center of the dark drama is the power-weary King Edward, who neglects the business of his government and his people in favor of a perverted love of art and a homoerotic relationship with his favorite, Gaveston. The king's enemy is Mortimer, an ambitious army commander and the lover of Edward's wife Queen Isabella. Mortimer has Gaveston executed, and the king cruelly killed. The spiral of violence eventually spreads to the next generation: Isabella and Edward's children, who have learned lessons in love and violence. The production brings firebrand Russian theater and opera director Evgeny Titov to the Opernhaus Zürich, along with Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov and the highly touted Trinidadian-born soprano Jeanine De Bique."
  • Website Links: Lessons in Love & Violence at the Opernhaus Zürich | Wikipedia | 2018 Royal Opera House Production Trailer, Excerpt and Insights Discussion [YouTube].
Le Feu, la Fumée, le Soufre on tour in France - 2022

Le Feu, La Fumée, Le Soufre [2022-23]

  • Play: Le Feu, La Fumée, Le Soufre (Fire, Smoke, Sulfur)
  • Tour: Bruno Geslin's adaptation of Marlowe's Edward II touring the following theatres around France 2022-23.
  • Montpellier: Wednesday 09 November to Thursday 10 November 2022 at Domaine d'O, 78 rue de la Carriérasse, 34090 Montpellier, France - tickets priced €16-€24.
  • Nîmes: Wednesday 16 November to Wednesday 17 November 2022 at Théâtre de Nîmes, Salle Bernadette Lafont, 1 place de la Calade, 30000 Nîmes, France - tickets priced €9-€22.
  • Lyon: Wednesday 30 November to Wednesday 07 December 2022 at Célestins, Théâtre de Lyon, 4 rue Charles Dullin, 69002 Lyon, France - tickets priced €7-€40.
  • Sète: Wednesday 25 January 2023 at Théâtre Molière, Avenue Victor Hugo, 34200 Sète, France - tickets priced €8-€33.
  • Tarbes: Tuesday 31 January to Wednesday 01 February 2023 at Le Parvis, Scène Nationale Tarbes Pyrenees, Route de Pau Centre Commercial Le Méridien, 65420 Ibos, France - tickets priced €10-€28.
  • Toulouse: Tuesday 07 March to Thursday 09 March 2023 at Théâtre de la Cité, 1 rue Pierre Baudis, 31000 Toulouse, France - tickets priced €12-€20.
  • Rennes: Tuesday 21 March to Friday 24 March 2023 at Théâtre National de Bretagne, 1 rue Saint-Hélier, CS 54007, 35040 Rennes, France - tickets priced €10-€31.
  • Martigues: Thursday 30 March 2023 at Théâtre des Salins, 19 Quai Paul Doumer, 13500 Martigues, France - tickets priced €8-€18.
  • Selected Past Productions: Comédie de Caen (09-10 March 2022); Théâtre Public, Montreuil (31 March - 09 April 2022).
  • Reviews: La Terrasse (Montreuil) [English translation]; Scene Web (Montreuil) [English translation]; WebTheatre (Montreuil) [English translation]; Théâtre du Blog (Montreuil) [English translation]; L’Oeil d’Olivier (Toulouse 2021); MediaPart; Revue Théâtres.
  • Summary: La Grande Mêlée Theatre Company presents Le Feu, La Fumée, Le Soufre, adapted by Jean-Michel Rabeux and Bruno Geslin from the play Edward II by Christopher Marlowe, directed by Bruno Geslin, with Claude Degliame as King Edward. "The tragic fate of a king who does not want to choose between the throne of England and the love of his lover. Fire. Smoke. Sulfur. In this adaptation of Edward II everything is excessive, mysterious chiaroscuro and exacerbated lyricism. It must be said that the tragedy of the Elizabethan author Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) is the work of all superlatives. Death struggle of a monarch who wants to make his lover the equal of the peers of his kingdom, this baroque spectacle immerses us in whirlwinds of images, sounds and twilight tremors. It is the great Claude Degliame who embodies here the king drunk with love and power. In this staging with queer accents, all roles are reversed. The actresses interpret the male characters and the actors the female characters. At the same time pastoral tale, historical drama, epic poem and introspective narrative, Edward II defies all simplifications. Bruno Geslin gives birth to a carnal and incandescent theater within which all metamorphoses are possible."
  • Website Links: La Grande Mêlée Theatre Company presents Le Feu, La Fumée, Le Soufre | Trailer Video | Toulouse Trailer.
Edward II at the ASC Blackfriars Playhouse, Staunton VA - 2023

ASC Blackfriars VA [2023]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Dates: Monday 20 February, Tuesday 21 February, Monday 27 February and Tuesday 28 February 2023.
  • Performance Times: Evenings at 19:30.
  • Venue: American Shakespeare Center, Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 South Market St, Staunton, VA 24401, USA. [Map]
  • Tickets: Contact Treehouse Shakespeare for ticket information.
  • Reviews: Peter Kirwan (Bardathon).
  • Summary: Treehouse Shakespeare Ensemble presents Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe and directed by Michael Manocchio, with Cole Metz as King Edward, Rosemary Richards as Queen Isabella and Keith Taylor as Gaveston. "King Edward II rules over a divided England. As rebellious courtiers and lords seek to overthrow him, Edward's only desire is to be with the man he loves, even at the cost of all he has. This production of Christopher Marlowe's tragic story of love, manipulation, and hatred comes to life in the historic Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, VA."
  • Website Links: Treehouse Shakespeare Ensemble presents Edward II at the Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton VA.
Edward II at the Volkstheater, Munich - 2021

Munich [2021]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Dates: Friday 15 October to Thursday 25 November 2021 (not continuous); Tuesday 21 June 2022 at 19:30.
  • Venue: Münchner Volkstheater, Tumblingerstraße 29, 80337 München. [Map & Directions]
  • Tickets: Priced €15 to €39 available online via the Volkstheater website [Booking Info].
  • Reviews: New York Times; Frankfurter Allgemeiner [English translation]; All News Press; BR24 [English translation]; Merkur [English translation]; Das Kulturblog [English translation]; Taz [English translation].
  • Summary: Münchner Volkstheater presents Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe and directed by Christian Stückl with Jan Meeno Jürgens as King Edward, Liv Stapelfeldt as Queen Isabella, Alexandros Koutsoulis as Gaveston, and Silas Breiding as Mortimer. "No sooner had Edward II ascended the throne after the death of his father, than he had the whole world against him. After years of exile, he brings his lover Gaveston to his side, showers him with money and honours and makes him the most important political adviser. The couple are met with sheer hatred: instead of going to war and defending the beleaguered borders, Edward flirts with the French flatterer, the casual peasant who torpedoes the entire long-established order. Queen Isabella fears for her family, the nobility for their power, the church for its principles. When Edward is blatantly threatened with starting a civil war, he can't help but turn Gaveston away. But after saying goodbye again, the rift between Edward and his entourage has become insurmountable, and the royal marriage in ruins. Humiliated, Isabella allies herself with Mortimer, who has been secretly planning the overthrow of the king for a long time. To finally get rid of him, they bring Gaveston back to court. A merciless hunt begins."
  • Website Links: Münchner Volkstheater presents Edward II | Trailer Video | Interview with director Christian Stückl [English translation].
Edward II at the Burbage Theatre, Pawtucket, Rhode Island - 2020

Rhode Island [2020]

Edward II at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse - 2019

Globe Indoor Playhouse [2019]

Edward II at the Provo Towne Centre, Utah - 2019

Provo, Utah [2019]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Dates: Friday 11 January to Saturday 02 February 2011.
  • Performance Times: Friday & Saturday evenings at 19:30.
  • Venue: Provo Towne Centre Mall, 1200 Towne Centre Blvd, Provo, UT 84601. [Map]
  • Tickets: Priced $14 online ($12 concessions) or $17 on the door ($15 concessions).
  • Reviews: Front Row Reviewers; Utah Theatre Bloggers.
  • Summary: An Other Theatre Company presents Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe and directed by Kailey Azure Green and Jessamyn Svensson, with Carter Walker as King Edward, Olivia Rae Casper as Queen Isabella, Colton Orr as Gaveston and Tyler Fox as Mortimer. "An Other Theater Company's Edward II rages with obsession, passion, and revenge. Provo Towne Centre houses a small but mighty theatre troupe. Rife with characters of limited moral compass, the rogues are selfish and angry. Edward II explores questions about the social limitations of love, the fragility of familial relations, the combativeness of government, and the fallibilities of human beings."
  • Website Links: An Other Theatre Company presents Edward II at the Provo Towne Centre.
Edward II at the Glasgow Botanic Gardens - 2018

Glasgow Botanic Gardens [2018]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Dates: Friday 13 July to Saturday 28 July 2018.
  • Performance Times: Evenings Tuesday to Saturday at 20:00.
  • Venue: Kibble Palace Glasshouse, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Gt Western Rd, Glasgow G12 0UE [Map & Directions]
  • Tickets: Priced £22.50 | £15 concessions | £12 Tuesdays, available online or from the Box Office (0141 429 0022).
  • Reviews: The Scotsman; The Herald; Scottish Stage; Allan Radcliffe.
  • Summary: Bard in the Botanics presents Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe, adapted and directed by Gordon Barr, with Laurie Scott as King Edward, Esme Bayley as Queen Isabella, Charlie Clee as Gaveston, and Andy Clark as Mortimer. "I will have Gaveston, and you shall know / What danger 'tis to stand against your king. Hot on the heels of his coronation, Edward II recalls his lover Gaveston from exile, lavishing him with titles and riches. Their all-consuming love makes enemies of the establishment, alienates the King's once-devoted Queen and threatens to tear the kingdom to pieces. A political thriller and an intense love story, Edward II is a powerful exploration of how far society will go to destroy a love seen as taboo. After the success of Doctor Faustus in 2016, Bard in the Botanics returns to the work of Christopher Marlowe as part of 'Writing the Renaissance', our strand of work exploring the playwrights who influenced Shakespeare. This new adaptation, featuring four actors, is a rare opportunity for audiences to enjoy Marlowe's magnificent, erotic and violent story, featuring the first openly gay couple in English drama."
  • Website Links: Bard in the Botanics presents Edward II at the Kibble Palace Glasshouse; Interview with director Gordon Barr.
Lazarus Theatre Co presents Edward II at The Greenwich Theatre - 2018

Greenwich Theatre [2018]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Dates: Tuesday 16 January to Saturday 27 January 2018.
  • Performance Times: Monday to Saturday evenings at 7.30pm; Saturday matinees 3pm
  • Venue: Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London SE10 8ES [Map & Directions].
  • Ticket Prices: £10 to £26
  • Buy tickets: Book online or ring the Greenwich Theatre Box Office on 020-8858-7755.
  • Reviews: Peter Kirwan (Bardathon UoN); British Theatre Guide; Broadway Baby; West End Wilma; LondonTheatre1; AtHomeHeFeelsLikeATourist.
  • Summary: After a critically acclaimed run at the Camden Fringe in September, the Lazarus Theatre Company take Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe, adapted and directed by Ricky Dukes, to the Greenwich Theatre, with Timothy Blore as King Edward, Alicia Charles as Queen Isabella, and Oseloka Obi as Gaveston. "The King is dead. His son, Edward II, is crowned King. His first act: to call home from banishment his lover, Gaveston. Why would you love him who the world hates so? Because he loves me more than all the world. Marlowe's homoerotic epic comes to the stage in this all-new ensemble production. Edward II is the first prodution in 2018 during which Lazarus take up a year-long residency at the Greenwich Theatre celebrating the greatest works of all time. Please note this production contains full male nudity and scenes of a sexual and violent nature."
  • Website Links: The Lazarus Theatre Company presents Edward II at the Greenwich Theatre.
Lazarus Theatre Co presents Edward II at The Tristan Bates Theatre, London - 2017

Tristan Bates Theatre [2017]

Edward II at the Cambridge Arts Theatre - 2017

Cambridge Arts Theatre [2017]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Dates: Wednesday 08 February to Saturday 11 February 2017
  • Performance Times: Evenings at 7.45pm; Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.
  • Venue: Cambridge Arts Theatre, 6 St Edward's Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ [Travel Directions]
  • Ticket Prices: £28 | £23 | £18 | Students £12.50.
  • Review: Varsity.
  • Summary: Cambridge Marlowe Society production of Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe, directed by Caroline Steinbeis, with Joe Sefton as King Edward, Katurah Morrish as Queen Isabella and Seth Kruger as Gaveston. "All live to die and rise to fall. Edward II lives in the shadow of his father, who conquered Wales and waged war to annex Scotland. But can Edward follow his father's legacy? The nobles of England think not. The King would seem more preoccupied with rewarding his male favourites, including the hated Piers Gaveston, than tackling problems at home and abroad. The time has come for Edward to take the lead, but how will he respond when his own wife, together with the senior magnates, act to bring down the King's circle of flatterers and favourites? And what will the consequences be for the King's son and heir? Christopher Marlowe's gripping drama of deceit and responsibility is brought vividly to life by the Marlowe Society, Cambridge University's leading drama society. The Marlowe Society return to Cambridge Arts Theatre after their recent acclaimed productions of Measure for Measure and Doctor Faustus; it has been responsible for launching the careers of some of Britain’s greatest actors including Ian McKellen, Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston and Derek Jacobi."
  • Website Links: Cambridge Marlowe Society presents Edward II at Cambridge Arts Theatre. Cambridge Marlowe Society Past Performances.
Edward II at the Oxford Playhouse - 2017

Oxford Playhouse [2017]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Dates: Wednesday 25 January to Saturday 28 January 2017.
  • Performance Times: Weds, Thurs, Sat evenings at 7.30pm; Fri evening at 8pm; Thurs & Sat matinees at 2.30pm.
  • Venue: Oxford Playhouse, 11-12 Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2LW [Map, Directions & Parking].
  • Ticket Prices: £11.50 - £19.00 with concessions for students, benefits, under-18s, over-60s, disabled.
  • Reviews: Oxford Mail; Reviewing Shakespeare; Daily Info; The Oxford Student: Review | Interview.
  • Summary: Drame Fatale (a student company at the University of Oxford) present Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe, directed by Charlotte Vickers, with Calam Lynch as King Edward, Rosa Garland as Queen Isabella, Sam Liu as Gaveston and Joe Stephenson as Mortimer. "England. The King is dead and his son, Edward II, now sits on the throne, full of radical ideas and driven by a forbidden passion. Torn between his wife, the powerful nobles and his banished lover, Piers Gaveston, Edward is a King caught between love and leadership. Taking inspiration from the tensions created by the fall of the USSR, this production interrogates the relationship between private and public, personal and political. It explores a world where battles are fought behind closed doors and where betrayal is everywhere."
  • Website Links: Oxford Playhouse website; Interview with director Charlotte Vickers and cast in Cherwell Student magazine.
Edward II at St. Bartholomew the Great, London - 2015

St Barts the Great [2015]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Dates: Friday 15 May to Thursday 02 July 2015 (playing alternately with Richard II).
  • Performance Times: Monday to Saturday. Evenings at 7.30pm; matinees various days at 12.30pm or 2.30pm.
  • Venue: The Priory Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfields, London EC1A 9DS [Map & Directions]. Nearest Tube Station: Barbican.
  • Ticket Prices: £19.50 | £14.50 concessions | £12 educational groups | £10 Equity. Plus a booking fee.
  • Reviews: The Theatre Tourist; LondonTheatre1; Everything Theatre; Carns Theatre Passion; Reviewing Shakespeare; Frantastic View.
  • Summary: The Scena Mundi Theatre Company (formerly The Little Spaniel Theatre Company) presents Sad Stories of the Death of Kings: Marlowe's Edward II and Shakespeare's Richard II, directed by Cecilia Dorland with Edward Fisher as King Edward, Ava Amande as Queen Isabella and Pip Brignall as Gaveston. "Scena Mundi, which specialises in classical theatre, has now been resident at the 12th Century Priory Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great for over a year. The Sad Stories of the Death of Kings season brings Shakespeare's Richard II and Marlowe's Edward II to the church, two accounts of the tragedy of power and the conflict between the private drama of the ruler and the public drama of state affairs. Two monarchs whose private passions get in the way of their political duty, each losing their crown at the hands of an ambitious rival. A reflection on the tragic fate of falling rulers, the season will find a contemporary echo in our year of general election."
  • Website Links: Scena Mundi Theatre Company presents Sad Stories of the Death of Kings at the church of St. Bartholomew the Great in London.
Edward II at the American Shakespeare Center - 2014

American Shakespeare Center [2014]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Date: Friday 12 September to Saturday 29 November 2014 (not continuous). Eves: 7.30pm; Matinees: 2pm.
  • Pre-Show Talks: Wednesday 17 September and Wednesday 12 November.
  • Talkback with Actors: After every Thursday night performance.
  • Venue: American Shakespeare Center, Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 South Market St, Staunton, VA 24401, USA. [Blackfriars Playhouse & Map]
  • Tickets: Priced $18 to $44. Buy online or from the box office. Pay What You Will nights: 12 & 13 September. [Ticket Info]
  • Reviews: Shakespeareances.
  • Summary: The American Shakespeare Center presents Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe and directed by Jim Warren, with René Thornton Jr as Edward, Sarah Fallon as Queen Isabella, and Patrick Midgley as Gaveston. "Consumed by obsessive love for a male courtier, the newly crowned King Edward II risks everything - crown, country, and even his own life - with a dangerous affair. When his foundation of divine right begins to crumble, Edward realizes the limitations of his power, but not before the whispers of treason have started to swell to a roar."
  • Website Link: American Shakespeare Center: Edward II production photos & Director's notes.
Edward II at the National Theatre - 2013

National Theatre [2013]

Edward II at the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre - 2011

Manchester [2011]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Date: Wednesday 07 September to Saturday 08 October 2011.
  • Evening Performances: Monday-Friday at 7.30pm; Saturdays at 8.00pm.
  • Matinees: Wednesdays at 2.30pm; Saturdays at 4.00pm; plus Tuesday 20 September at 2.30pm.
  • Venue: The Theatre, The Royal Exchange Theatre, St Anns Square, Manchester, M2 7DH. [Map & Directions]
  • Booking: Book online or from the Box Office Mon-Sat 9.30am-7.30pm in person / telephone 0161-833-9833. [How to Book]
  • Reviews: Guardian; Telegraph [£]; Times [£]; British Theatre Guide; The Stage; Peter Kirwan (Bardathon UoN); Manchester Salon; ReviewsGate; Mancunion; Arts Desk; Hobbinol Blog.
  • Summary: The Manchester Royal Exchange presents Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe and directed by Toby Frow, with Chris New as King Edward, Emma Cunniffe as Queen Isabella, Sam Collings as Gaveston, and Jolyon Coy as Mortimer. "Think Richard III meets The King's Speech. Why would you love him who the world hates so? On ascension to the English throne, Edward II calls back his beloved ally Piers Gaveston. But when their close relationship throws the court and Edward's marriage into disarray, it threatens to destabilise an entire country. The inventive creative team behind last year's unmissable production of Doctor Faustus, led by director Toby Frow, reunite for this fast-paced thriller which will have your allegiances shifting in a night of gripping theatre."
  • Website Links: Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre; Manchester Confidential interview with Chris New.
Edward II at The Rose - 2011

The Rose on Bankside [2011]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Date: Thursday 10th February to Saturday 5th March 2011
  • Performance Times: Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 7.30pm; Sunday matinee at 3pm.
  • Venue: The Rose Theatre, Bankside, 56 Park Street, London, SE1 9AS. Nearest Station: London Bridge.
  • Ticket Prices: £10 or £8 for concessions.
  • Reviews: British Theatre Guide; Lisa Hopkins (Shakespeare Journal); Extra! Extra!.
  • Summary: Em-Lou Productions (responsible for the excellent Arden of Faversham production at The Rose in 2010) bring Christopher Marlowe's history of Edward II back to Bankside, directed by Peter Darney, with Matt Barber as King Edward, Zoe Teverson as Queen Isabella and Joseph Bader as Gaveston. "King Edward comes to the throne, and immediately recalls his banished lover, Piers Gaveston - an order that puts him at odds with most of his court. Edward must battle his sneering subjects, his scorned wife and his own family for not only the right to rule, but for the right to love. This classic is a thrillingly crafted bloody tale of love, lust, betrayal and class conflict; of what one man would do for power and what another man would do in the face of love."
  • Website Links: The Rose website.
Edward II at Battersea Arts Centre, London - 2008

Battersea Arts Centre [2008]

  • Play: Edward II
  • Date: 18 July - 09 August 2008: performances Monday to Saturday at 19:45.
  • Venue: Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN.[Map & Directions]
  • Tickets: Book online or ring the Box Office on 020 7223 2223.
  • Reviews: Guardian; British Theatre Guide; Tom Band (Shakespeare Journal); MusicOMH.com; Rogues & Vagabonds.
  • Summary: Battersea Arts Centre presents Edward II written by Christopher Marlowe and directed by Michael Oakley, with Philip Cumbus as King Edward, Kate Sissons as Queen Isabella and Tom Robertson as Gaveston. "A gay monarch, a throne usurped, a country in crisis. Royal tradition or private passion: where will your allegiances lie? Michael Oakley (winner of the JMK Award 2008) directs a bold, subversive and urgent play that has challenged audiences through the centuries. In our so-called liberal age, this stylish and provocative play continues to raise alarmingly relevant issues." Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director at the National Theatre, who himself directed a critically acclaimed production of Marlowe's play at the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre in 1986, said "Edward II is an earthy, powerful and very visceral play. I am delighted to hear that Michael Oakley has won the JMK Award. He is a hugely promising director whose career is one to watch. I really look forward to seeing this production."
  • Website Links: Battersea Arts Centre