MARYLEBONE THEATRE PATRON MARK RYLANCE TO PERFORM VENUS AND ADONIS ALONGSIDE DEREK JACOBI
AS PART OF A GALA FUNDRAISER
17 NOVEMBER 2024
THEATRE CELEBRATES FIRST TWO YEARS WITH DETAILS OF FULL AUTUMN / WINTER SEASON,
PLUS, AN INCREASED SEATING CAPACITY FROM OCTOBER
Marylebone Theatre Artistic Director Alexander Gifford alongside new Executive Director Hannah Henderson are pleased to announce that Mark Rylance – the venue’s Patron – will perform Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis alongside Derek Jacobi on Sunday 17 November at 7.00pm, as part of a fundraiser in aid of the theatre. Tickets are on sale now via the theatre’s website.
The fundraiser is part of an autumn / winter season which includes The Last Word (5 – 21 September) – a searing multimedia performance based on the last words of women accused of political crimes in Russian courts; What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank (4 October – 23 November) – a serious comedy written by Nathan Englander, directed by Patrick Marber and starring Joshua Malina; and culminating with A Sherlock Carol ‘a winning crossover mystery’ (The Guardian), which returns to Baker street for a third Christmas following two sold-out runs. Singer songwriter Nerina Pallot also brings her first one-woman show, I Digress, to the Marylebone Theatre for two performances only (2 & 9 December). Audiences can also enjoy the exhibition Long Shadows, Bright World, on display until 1 December – a collaboration between Sir Ben Okri and Rosemary Clunie, bringing together the worlds of painting and poetry, image and text.
In response to high demand for tickets and a wish to expand the venue’s commercial potential. the theatre will also be increasing its seating capacity in late September from its current 200 seats up to 266 seats.
Mark Rylance said, “In the early 1990’s I was a month away from performing Venus and Adonis when the production had to be cancelled. Thirty years later, I am excited to be revisiting my plans to play Shakespeare’s first known published work as part of a gala fundraiser for the Marylebone Theatre. This excellent new venue, of which I am a patron, stages original, wonderful plays, often in verse. I am delighted that my dear friend Derek Jacobi will be joining on stage to support a venue with a unique calling to explore and refresh the great classical tradition.”
Since opening in autumn 2022 with Dmitry by Peter Oswald, the Marylebone Theatre has presented an eclectic programme of theatre, spoken word, music and events. To date, it has welcome over 50,000 people through its doors, been awarded the Off West End award for Best Production and received numerous four and five-star reviews for shows including, The Dry House, a world premiere by Eugene O’Hare, the poignant and moving dramas Grenfell: System Failure, and the hit-show, The White Factory. 2024 highlights have included The Most Precious of Goods, translated and directed by Nicolas Kent, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man, starring Greg Hicks, and The Government Inspector, a brand-new adaptation of Gogol’s masterpiece.
Marylebone Theatre Artistic Director Alexander J Gifford said,“As the Marylebone Theatre approaches its second birthday, I am proud to be announcing a season which combines the urgently political with the eternally poetic. Venus and Adonis is perhaps the most exquisite long poem in the English language. Performed by two of Shakespeare’s greatest modern interpreters, Sir Mark Rylance and Sir Derek Jacobi, it will be the centre-piece of a gala fundraiser, whose goal is to secure the Marylebone’s future as a major, new producing house. Alongside it, we will be presenting two UK premieres, delivered by world-class directors, Maxim Didenko and Patrick Marber. I hope our new season consolidates our reputation as an important, new venue and that more and more people come through our doors to enjoy our unique offering of relevant, potent and artistically excellent work.”