In Extremis and De Profundis
To mark the centenary of Oscar Wilde's death, the National presents a limited run of two plays, with Corin Redgrave as Wilde: IN EXTREMIS, a new play by Neil Bartlett, with Sheila Hancock as Mrs Robinson; and DE PROFUNDIS by Oscar Wilde, edited by Merlin Holland. This Wilde double bill opens in the Cottesloe on 7 November (with previews from 3 November) for a limited run until 16 December. The plays are directed by Corin Redgrave and Trevor Nunn, and are presented in association with Moving Theatre.
IN EXTREMIS: On the night of 24 March 1895, Mrs Robinson, a society palm reader, agreed to see Oscar Wilde in her London flat. Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, 'Bosie', was urging him to sue the Marquis of Queensberry (Bosie's father) for criminal libel. But Wilde's friends, wary of Queensberry's power, were warning him to leave town. IN EXTREMIS reveals the strange turmoil of that night, as a man at the height of his fame turns to a complete stranger for advice about a potentially life-changing decision.
DE PROFUNDIS: Two years on from his encounter with Mrs Robinson, towards the end of his sentence in Reading Gaol, Wilde was agonising over the lack of contact with Bosie. In desperation, he started to write him a letter, perhaps the greatest love letter ever written - filled with a torrent of accusation, recrimination and passion. Wilde eventually reached an extraordinary state of understanding and reconciliation. A century later, DE PROFUNDIS remains an astonishing tour-de-force of self-analysis.
Neil Bartlett, currently Artistic Associate at The Lyric, Hammersmith, works as a performer, director, translator and writer. His written works for theatre include The Seven Sacraments of Nicolas Poussin, Seven Sacraments and Sarrasine; previous work for the National includes translations of Berenice and The Game of Love and Chance. Work for TV, film and video include That's What Friends Are For, Where is Love, Pedagogue, That's How Strong My Love Is, and Now That It's Morning. Most recently Neil Bartlett translated, designed and directed Marivaux's The Dispute (Winner of 1999 Time Out Award for Best Production in the West End and 1999 TMA Best Touring Production). He was awarded an OBE earlier this year.
Corin Redgrave's extensive theatre work includes Leonid in Trevor Nunn's production of The Cherry Orchard, currently playing in the Cottesloe repertoire; Boss Whalen in Not About Nightingales at the National, the Alley Theatre, Houston and on Broadway, for which he received Best Actor nominations from the Olivier, Tony and Drama Desk Awards; Marat/Sade (National), the title role in Macbeth (Battersea Arts Centre), A Song at Twilight (Gielgud Theatre), and Some Sunny Day (Hampstead). His television appearances include an Omnibus profile of his father Michael Redgrave, Plain Jane, Trial and Retribution, The Vice and Persuasion; recent films include Enigma, Honest, The Opium War and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Sheila Hancock has worked extensively in theatre for the RSC, the Royal Court and in the West End. Her roles include Paulina in The Winter's Tale, Tamora in Titus Andronicus and Mrs Darling in Peter Pan (all for the RSC). Previously for the National she played Ranyevskaya in The Cherry Orchard. She is one of Britain's most popular TV actresses, known for her roles in The Buccaneers, The Brighton Belles, Single Voices and Entertaining Mr Sloane. Films include: Three Men and a Little Lady, Hawks, A Business Affair and The Love Child.
Corin and Vanessa Redgrave formed Moving Theatre in 1994. The company co-produced the world premiere of Tennessee Williams's Not About Nightingales at the National's Cottesloe Theatre in 1998.
Both plays are supported in memory of Thomas Norman Westcott, and IN EXTREMIS is supported by NT New Drama Circle.
Oscar Wilde Week
In addition to IN EXTREMIS and DE PROFUNDIS, the National will present OSCAR WILDE WEEK, a series of events including play and story readings by leading actors, discussions, free outdoor events and a candlelit memorial celebration, from Monday 27 November - Saturday 1 December.
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