The Duchess of Malfi
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Ten years after opening the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in 2014, experience a ‘thrilling, funny and moving’ ★★★★ (The Times) new production of John Webster’s seminal revenge tragedy, The Duchess of Malfi, in London’s only indoor candlelit theatre.
A forbidden marriage. A hidden family. A dangerous web of secrets and lies.
The recently widowed Duchess falls in love with her steward, Antonio. Her brothers, eager to keep her under their control, warn her not to remarry. But some things are worth fighting – and lying – for…
In a rigid, male-dominated world, how far does a woman have to go to protect those she loves the most? And what desperate measures will the men in her life take to control her story?
Award-winning Director Rachel Bagshaw (Midnight Movie, Royal Court) makes her Globe directorial debut with this ‘richly atmospheric’ ★★★★ (Financial Times) anniversary production of Webster’s violent tale of misogyny and deceit.
‘I account this world a tedious theatre, For I do play a part in’t ‘gainst my will.’
– Act IV, scene 1
This production uses creative captioning throughout each performance. Selected seats offer a clearer view of the captions due to the unique architecture of the theatre. To find out more about creative captions please click here.
Content guidance: The play contains themes of incest, misogyny, and child death; and moments of sexual assault and violence, including strangulation and murder. This production features the use of stage blood and weapons, including prop guns and knives. Please contact the ticketing team on 020 7401 9919 or [email protected] if you would like further details on the play’s content.
DETAILS
TICKETS
Galleries (Seating) £62 – £25
Standing £10, £5
This event is on-site in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Running time 2 hours and 40 minutes including an interval
Join the conversation #DuchessOfMalfiGlobe
Terms and conditions
A £2.50 transaction fee per order applies online and over the telephone.
Part of Sam Wanamaker Playhouse 10th Anniversary
Photography Credit: By Pip
Art Direction: Helena Milsom
Find out how to get here, where to stay and read our FAQs.
Everything you need to know about our access offering, including a full list of upcoming access performances.
★★★★
‘Piercing, bracing…terrific’
EVENING STANDARD
★★★★
‘Emotional and intriguing’
THE GUARDIAN
★★★★
‘Thrilling, funny and moving’
THE TIMES
★★★★
‘Riveting and vivacious’
THE ARTS DESK
★★★★
‘Phenomenal… genuinely exciting’
TIME OUT
★★★★★
‘Dazzling…incredibly creative’
BROADWAY WORLD
★★★★
‘A gripping human drama full of warmth’
THE STAGE
★★★★★
‘A thrilling evening for theatregoers’
WEST END BEST FRIEND
★★★★★
‘A genuine sensation’
LONDON THEATRE
★★★★
‘Electric’
REVIEWS HUB
★★★★
‘A triumph’
THE UPCOMING
★★★★
‘Richly atmospheric’
FINANCIAL TIMES
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
THE COMPANY
Guitar
Shirley Tetteh
Musical Director / Percussion
Joley Cragg
Violone / Double Bass
Carina Cosgrave
Woodwind
Sarah Homer
Access Consultant
Zoë Halliday
Assistant Director
Roberta Zuric
Associate Movement & Intimacy Director
Ana Beatriz Meireles
Candle Consultant
Sally Ferguson
Caption Designer
Sarah Readman
Casting Director
Becky Paris CDG
Composer
Anna Clock
Costume Supervisor
Sabia Smith
Director
Rachel Bagshaw
Dramaturg
Zoë Svendsen
Fight Director
Rae Bown-Williams
Fight Director
Ruth Cooper-Brown
Movement & Intimacy Director
Ingrid Mackinnon
Set & Costume Designer
Ti Green
Text Consultant
Giles Taylor
Voice Coach
Kay Welch
Wellbeing, Cultural and Diversity Consultant
Carol Cumberbatch
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ACCESS
We provide Access Resources for Audio Described and Relaxed performances.
Audio Introduction & Large Print Introduction (VocalEyes)
CREATIVE CAPTIONING FAQS
What is ‘creative captioning’?
Creative captions are developed as part of the artistic vision when creating a production. The intention is for the captions to make the production as accessible as possible to audiences, as well as complementing the set and the performances. Creative captions may be used to reflect characterisation using font style, size and animation.
Every performance of The Duchess of Malfi will use creative captions throughout.
Will I be able to see the creative captions from anywhere in the theatre?
Due to the unique architecture of the theatre, the captions will not be fully visible from some seats.
If you require the use of captions to access the production, there are specific seats which will give a clear view of the captions at each performance.
If booking online, please click ‘view only the recommended seats for captions’ before selecting your seats.
You can also contact our Box Office for more information by emailing or you can call us on +44 (0)20 7401 9919. Our phone lines are open Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm and Sun 10am-5pm.
Alternatively, you may wish to attend one of our ‘traditional’ captioned performances (please see section below for further details).
Are there any ‘traditional’ captioned performances?
Our traditional closed-captioned performances are on Saturday 9th March at 2pm and Friday 5th April at 7:30pm and are marked as CAP on our booking page.
For these two performances the actors’ words appear as scrolling text on individual tablets for audiences to read live during the performance.
These tablets can be booked in advance and are available at specific seats in the Upper Gallery. When booking online, please click ‘view only the recommended seats for captions’ before selecting your seats.
The captions provided on tablets on these dates are in addition to the creative captions that will be visible at each performance.