LIBERTY by Glyn Maxwell

Lifeblood Theatre Company and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre present

LIBERTY by Glyn Maxwell

Directed by Guy Retallack, designed by Ti Green, composer William Lyons, choreographer Paul Harris, lighting Paul Russell

Exeter Northcott: 14 - 18 October 2008
01392 493493 / www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

Following its world premiere at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Liberty is the first Globe main stage production to tour the UK and co-producers, Lifeblood Theatre Company, are the first company ever to co-produce a show with The Globe.

The play tells the story of how a group of friends are sundered by mass hysteria and how idealism is corrupted and degraded by fear within a violent state dictatorship. Paris, 1793. The French Revolution is four years old when ambitious young artist, Gamelin (David Sturzaker), discovers he has been made a magistrate for the ruling forces. Gamelin believes the Revolution divides the world between good and evil, he sees conspiracy and corruption everywhere. How strong will the ties of love and friendship prove when he is given power over life and death, as the new order plunges with terrifying momentum from high idealism to bloody mob rule?

Writer Glyn Maxwell is an award winning poet, playwright and novelist. His play Lifeblood was voted best play by the British Theatre Guide in 2004 and led the producer, Sue Scott Davison to create Lifeblood Theatre Company which champions new writing. Glyn’s novel The Girl Who Was Going to Die was published in March this year and his new book of poetry, Hide Now, will be available this autumn.

The cast includes Belinda Lang (as Louise) and David Sturzaker. Belinda’s TV credits include 2 Point 4 Children (BBC) and her numerous stage credits include: Ring Around the Moon (Playhouse Theatre); Hay Fever (Haymarket Theatre); Forgotten Voices (Riverside & Assembly Rooms); and Hay Fever (Manchester Royal Exchange). David Sturzaker’s stage credits include War & Peace (Shared Experience); Visiting Mr Green – opposite Warren Mitchell (Tour); Future Me (Theatre 503); Bash (Trafalgar Studios) and numerous productions for The Globe including Titus Andronicus and Troilus & Cressida.

Director Guy Retallack’s recent work includes World’s End (Trafalgar Studios); Future Me (Theatre503); and The Lifeblood (Edinburgh and Riverside).

This thrilling adaptation of Anatole France’s 1912 novel Les Dieux ont Soif combines private jealousies and public fears, old alliances and new ideologies, panic legislation and political correctness. All in all, an old story that is still very fresh and relevant.

Dates

LIBERTY by Glyn Maxwell 14/10/2008 - 18/10/2008

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