Titus Andronicus stars BAFTA and Olivier-winning actor Simon Russell Beale in a tragedy which famously features several gruesome murders.
The tale of the victorious General embroiled in a powerplay for the Roman Empire includes a rape, a tongue being cut out, a man sentenced to be buried alive, and a mother served her two sons in a pie.
First performed in 1594, it’s one of the Bard’s earliest and goriest plays and Max Webster’s critically feted production promises to feature “gallons of blood”.
Critics hailed the extreme version staged at The Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon this spring as “brutally powerful” and “thrilling,” and said Russell Beale was “sublime.”
It plays at the Eton Avenue venue from Friday September 5 to Saturday October 11 with public booking going live on Friday July 4.
Webster’s bold and brilliant production is examined through the lens of 21st century aggression.
When victorious general Titus Andronicus executes his enemy’s son in a merciless show of vengeance, he has no idea of the evil his actions will unleash. As the two sides trade violent acts of retribution, one man revels in the bloodbath.
The Death of Stalin star Russell Beale returns to Hampstead Theatre after much-praised appearances in Tom Stoppard’s The Invention of Love and Mr Foote’s Other Leg.
Greg Ripley-Duggan, Chief Executive at Hampstead Theatre said: “I am overjoyed to present Max Webster’s production of Titus Andronicus – it’s a truly special piece of theatre and it’ll be a thrill to host the extraordinary company of actors led by Simon Russell Beale.
“It’s great that Hampstead has been given the opportunity to welcome London audiences to this once-in-a-lifetime production of a play that is often disregarded, but is here rendered immediate and brilliantly relevant.”
RSC Co-Artistic Directors Tamara Harvey and Daniel Evans said: “As one of Shakespeare’s first and bloodiest plays, Titus Andronicus continues to compel and horrify us in equal measure with its audacious blend of brutality, gallows humour and hot-blooded intensity.
“In Max Webster’s production, we see Shakespeare’s study of state-sponsored violence and inter-generational retribution bought sharply and tragically into focus for our times. We look forward to sharing its visceral power with London audiences.”
For information and tickets visit hampsteadtheatre.com
