Phedre by Jean Baptiste Racine adapted by Ted Hughes will open at Perth Theatre on Thursday 16 March and run until Saturday 1 April. The production will then tour to the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow and Warwick Arts Centre.
Phedre is the story of a queen and the most forbidden love of all. Phedre wrongly believes that her husband Theseus has been killed in the war. She has waited for word of his fate but no word has come.
Meanwhile, she falls lustfully and madly in love with her handsome stepson Hippolytus. Phedre is obsessed, trapped in her own fate, but she cannot deny her unlawful passion for Hippolytus, her husband's son.
Phedre confesses her love to Hippolytus but he is abhorred by her confession and loves the beautiful Aricia, who he wishes to marry and rule with as Queen. When Phedre is spurned by the beautiful young Hippolytus and hears of his love, she plots a vengeful path, which ends in bloodshed and tragedy for all.
Perth Theatre is one of Scotland’s oldest theatres with an enchanting Edwardian auditorium. Our season is a mix of quality Perth productions, co-productions with Scottish and international companies, and visiting work. This year, for the first time in a decade, Perth Theatre is on tour in association with theatrebabel. Graham McLaren is co-creative director of Perth Theatre alongside Ian Grieve. Graham is also well known for his position as artistic director of theatrebabel.
Phedre is showing at Perth Theatre from Thu 16 March (preview) – Sat 1 April. 7.45pm + 2.30pm (Sat matinees). £9.50 – £15.50 + concessions. Children £5.50 and Kids Go Free Tue – Thu at the theatre.
Then touring to: Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Tue 18 – Sat 22 April, and Warwick Arts Centre, Tues 25 – Sat 29 April.
Phedre is touring in association with theatrebabel. Phedre cast:
- Peter D'Souza
- Theramene
- Kathryn Howden
- Phedre
- Sarah Lawrie
- Aricia
- Phil Matthews
- Hippolytus
- Anne Myatt
- Oenone
- Ann Scott Jones
- Ismene
- Benny Young
- Theseus
Adapted from Jean Racine by Ted Hughes. Directed and designed by Graham McLaren. Lighting designed by Kai Fisher.
On Jean Baptists Racine:
Jean Baptiste Racine (the French Shakespeare) was born 1639 in France and was raised mainly by his grandparents who were Jansenists. This was a sect of Catholicism that emphasised severely controlled conduct, denied free will and stressed the necessity of grace for salvation. He eventually and tragically left the theatre as his family had been shamed by his career. He then resumed his life as a Jansenist and became a royal historiographer.