The Old Vic to Delve into WOYZECK with 'On Nature' Talk

The Old Vic will be presenting On Nature as part of Voices Off, a series of talks, conversations, debates and workshops which explore the themes raised by the productions on the main stage. The discussion will take place in The Old Vic auditorium on Thursday 15 June at 5pm.

The Old Vic's Baylis Director and Director of Woyzeck, Joe Murphy, Artistic Director Matthew Warchus, and Laura Marcus, Professor of English at the University of Oxford, will discuss Woyzeck with Anthony Julius Deputy Chairman of Mishcon de Reya. They will give an insight into the process behind Jack Thorne's radical reworking of Büchner's text, and explore the play's presentation of the darker side of human nature.

Anthony Julius, Deputy Chairman of Michcon de Reya, said: "What appeals to me about Büchner is his ability to explore how humans react in extreme emotional situations and how they come to commit terrible acts. In this talk we will delve deeper into these themes, and discuss the process behind Jack Thorne's radical reworking of Büchner's text. I'm looking forward to talking with Matthew Warchus, Joe Murphy and Laura Marcus about the process of re-imagination, and the balance between respecting the original work as art and pushing its boundaries through reinterpretation.­"

The multi-award winning Jack Thorne breathes new life into Woyzeck, one of the most extraordinary plays ever written. It's 1980s Berlin. The Cold War rages and the world sits at a crossroads between Capitalism and Communism. On the border between East and West, a young soldier and the love of his life are desperately trying to build a better future for their child. But the cost of escaping poverty is high, and its tragic consequences unfold in this searing tale of the people society leaves behind.

Woyzeck opened at The Old Vic on 23 May, directed by Joe Murphy and starring John Boyega.