Downie, McGann Set For Frank McGuinness' HELEN At Shakespeare's Globe 8/2-8/23

Penny Downie and Paul McGann take the lead roles in the world première of Helen - Frank McGuinness' new version of Euripides' classic - at Shakespeare's Globe between 2 and 23 August 2009. Under the direction of Deborah Bruce, this is the Globe's first excursion into full-scale Greek drama and continues Dominic Dromgoole's commitment to new writing.

The renowned playwright Frank McGuinness (Someone Who'll Watch Over Me and Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme) follows his acclaimed version of Oedipus at the National Theatre with a funny and sparkling treatment of Euripides' strange, comic and fairy-tale-like romance.

Penny Downie will be play the title role of Helen. Her recent stage roles include Gertrude in Hamlet and Penelope in The Penelopiad (both for the RSC) and Dinner (National Theatre/West End). Paul McGann will play Menelaus. His first major role was as Percy Topliss in the BBC series The Monocled Mutineer. Best known for his role in Withnail and I, Paul's theatre work includes Morning Becomes Electra (National Theatre).

Director Deborah Bruce's previous projects include Scarborough (Royal Court and Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh), which won a Fringe First Award during its run in Edinburgh; Geoff Dead: Disco for Sale (Live Theatre Newcastle); Blame (Arcola); The Unexpected Man and In Praise of Love (Bath Theatre Royal and tour); Musik and Making Noise Quietly (Oxford Stage Company) and Made of Stone (Royal Court).

Music will be composed by Claire van Kampen, whose recent projects include King Lear and Love's Labour's Lost (Shakespeare's Globe), Boeing-Boeing (West End and Broadway), Peer Gynt (Guthrie Theater Minneapolis) and I am Shakespeare (Chichester Festival Theatre). Designer Gideon Davey has previously worked on Radamisto (English National Opera), Don Quixote (West Yorkshire Playhouse) and All My Sons (Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse).

Booking:
Phone 020 7401 9919 or 020 7087 7398
In person Mon-Sat 10am-6pm (8pm on performance days)
Sundays 10am-5pm (7pm on performances days)
On-line www.shakespeares-globe.org
Tickets £5.00 - £33.00

 

 

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