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Pioneering Youth Theatre in English “The Duchess of Malfi”

AFTEC’s first foray into Jacobean drama happened in Dec 2012 and ran for four performances, when its Pioneering Youth Theatre in English opened at the Sai Wan Ho Civic Theatre with The Duchess of Malfi.

John Webster’s tragedy is arguably the greatest 17th century play not written by Shakespeare. It tells of a widowed Duchess, prohibited from marrying again by her brothers and her defiance of custom, family, state and class. When she falls in love and secretly enters into a common-law marriage with her Steward, she is exiled, hounded and finally killed by her princely kinsmen whose brutal vengeance encompasses everyone around her. Rich, dark, glittering, horrifying, anguished, thrilling : it is a play like no other.

The events (based on a true story) unfold during the time of the Italian Renaissance with all its elaborate and sumptuous costuming; giving us a corrupt Cardinal, a demented Duke, a persecuted Duchess and as high a corpse-count as in any classic of the English stage. Man consumes man – and woman – amid the rank shimmer and rolling metaphors of Webster’s beautiful verse.

Backstage Tour
The production offered a Backstage Tour for those who would like to explore our dazzling set designed by the renowned British architect Richard Rees and the dynamics of the backstage.

Playwright: John Webster
Director: Stephan Spurr

Please click here for further information on school booking.