An interrogation of power and paranoia, Bell Shakespeare presents Shakespeare’s gruesome revenge tragedy Titus Andronicus in the Playhouse – Sydney Opera House from 27 August 2019.
War hero. Mother. Monster. 21 children left dead on the battleground, Titus returns home to Rome with Queen of the Goths, Tamora, and her three sons as prisoners of war. Titus Andronicus is Shakespeare’s terrifying tale of two families locked in a violent cycle of chaos and bloody vengeance.
Political intrigue and corruption turn to rape, cannibalism, mutilation and murder as people become pawns in a torturous battle of wills. Shakespeare dives into the depths of humankind’s most vile traits and invites audiences to revel in the horrors that are found within.
Directed by Adena Jacobs (Belvoir’s Wizard of Oz and English National Opera’s Salome) and featuring Jane Montgomery Griffiths (MTC’s Macbeth) as Titus Andronicus, this production will have you questioning where does the cycle of revenge truly begin and end?
“Titus Andronicus is about a society unable to process its trauma,” said Jacobs. “A society so dehumanised that it derives pleasure through bodily punishment and creates a spectacle of its victims and perpetrators. Titus Andronicus is a nightmare – a grotesque examination of reciprocal violence and histories doomed to repeat themselves.”
This will be Jacob’s first time working with Bell Shakespeare, which as Artistic Director Peter Evans said, is an exciting prospect for the Company and audiences alike. “We are thrilled to welcome Adena to the Company, and I look forward to experiencing her reimagining of Shakespeare’s earliest tragedy,” he said.
“This is a challenging play, where Shakespeare delves into some of the most unimaginable human behaviours. With Adena at the helm, this will be the boldly experimental and confronting production audiences of today are hungry for,” said Evans.
Director: Adena Jacobs Featuring: Melita Jurisic, Tariro Mavondo, Jane Montgomery Griffiths, Jayna Patel, Josh Price, Tony Ray Ray, Daniel Schlusser, Grace Truman, Catherine Van-Davies Designer: Eugyeene Teh Lighting & Projection Designer: Verity Hampson Composer & Sound Designer: Max Lyandvert Movement Director: Danielle Micich Voice & Text Coach: Jess Chambers Dramaturg: Aaron Orzech
Titus Andronicus
Playhouse – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
Season: 27 August – 27 September 2019
Bookings: www.sydneyoperahouse.com
For more information, visit: www.bellshakespeare.com.au for details.
Image: Jane Montgomery Griffiths stars as Titus Andronicus – photo by Pierre Toussaint