IN EXTREMIS Plays King's Head Theatre, Now thru Dec 9

Commissioned in 2000 by The National Theatre to mark the centenary of Oscar Wilde's death and not seen in London since then, In Extremis, by Neil Bartlett, will play a 4-week season at the King's Head Theatre, London from today 18 November - Sunday 9 December, playing on Sundays and Mondays. Press night is Monday 19 November at 7.15pm.

On the night of the 24 March, 1895, Mrs Robinson, a society palm reader, agrees to see the celebrated playwright and and author Oscar Wilde in her London flat. He is at the very height of his popular fame with his masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, still on stage in the West End. But it is just a week before the opening of what would become billed as the 'trial of the century'...

In Extremis attempts to reveal and understand the strange turmoil of that night, as one of the most celebrated men of his age enlists the help of a complete stranger for advice about a potentially life-changing decision. Faced with the choice of fight or flight, is Oscar's decision based on the advice he receives that night?

Neil Bartlett is a director, author, deviser, translator, adaptor and performer. Over the last 25 years his work has included controversial solo and large-scale performance pieces as well as major productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Opera North, the National and the Royal Court. His first book, published in 1988, was a pioneering reassessment of Oscar Wilde; since then he has also written three acclaimed novels, the most recent of which, Skin Lane, was longlisted for the Costa Award.

Kean Productions present IN EXTREMIS by Neil Bartlett, directed by Caroline Devlin with designer Petra Hjortsberg and sound designer Matt Eaton. The cast features Kate Copeland, Nigel Fairs, Fiz Marcus and Charlie Buckland.

King's Head Theatre is located at 115 Upper Street, London N1 1QN. The show runs today 18 November at 7.15pm; Monday 19 November at 7.15pm; Sunday 25November at 7.15pm; Monday 26 November at 7.15pm; Sunday 2 December at 7.15pm; Monday 3 December at 7.15pm; and Sunday 9 December at 3.00pm and 7.15pm.

Tickets are £15.00 - £12.00 (concs). To book, visit www.kingsheadtheatre.com or telephone the box office: 020 7478 0160.

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