Described as “one of the great works of Jacobean theatre”, John Webster’s violent revenge tragedy The White Devil is to start a four-month run in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre, Stratford.
The plot involves Duke Bracciano becoming besotted by the beautiful Vittoria. When he makes her an indecent proposal she cannot refuse, she enlists the help of Flamineo to fool her husband and begins an illicit affair. But their infidelity does not go unnoticed.
Vittoria and Flamineo find themselves snared in a web of corruption, passion and retribution as their single-minded pursuit of personal gain reaches an epic and bloody conclusion.
The RSC last performed the tragedy in 1996. This time it will be directed by Maria Aberg whose RSC credits include As You Like It in 2013 and King John as part of the 2012 World Shakespeare Festival.
The cast is comprised of Joseph Arkley (Ludovico), Peter Bray (Marcello), Elspeth Brodie (company), Kirsty Bushell (Vittoria), Colin Anthony Brown (ambassador), Faye Castelow (Isabella), Keir Charles (Camillo), Liz Crowther (Cornelia), Laura Elphinstone (Flamineo), Lizzie Hopley (Hortensio), Joan Iyiola (Zanche), Tony Jayawardena (ambassador), Michael Moreland (company), Ken Nwosu (Carlo), Tom Padley (Antonelli), David Rintoul (Cardinal Monticelso), Simon Scardifield (Francisco), Jay Simpson (Gasparo), David Sturzaker (Bracciano) and Harvey Virdi (matron).
The designer is Naomi Dawson, lighting is by James Farncombe, sound by Tom Gibbons, and music by David Maclean and Tommy Grace. Nathan Parker looks after video design, movement is by Ayse Tashkiran and fights are by Malcolm Ranson.
The White Devil runs in the Swan from Wednesday 30 July until Saturday 29 November. Press night is Wednesday 6 August.