Bold new London theatre launches with unfinished Schiller masterpiece DMITRY
An exciting new London cross-arts venue, Marylebone Theatre, is launching with a rediscovery of an unfinished visionary work by Friedrich Schiller, Dmitry, which offers a revelatory perspective on the current crisis on Europe’s eastern borders.
Dmitry is written by Peter Oswald (resident playwright at Shakespeare’s Globe under Mark Rylance) after peerless dramatist Schiller’s play Demetrius, left incomplete at his death. This explosive world premiere will start the opening season of Marylebone Theatre, a new venue with bold ambitions to present the best new writing alongside high quality dance, music and spoken word.
World-renowned Tim Supple, former Artistic Director of the Young Vic, will return to London to direct this thrilling production, which reflects the bold programming ambitions of the venue.
Acclaimed English verse dramatist Oswald follows his celebrated vision of Schiller’s Mary Stuart with this potent new play, dramatizing a story of compelling contemporary relevance with a thrilling classical perspective. Supple returns to the London theatre scene after 15 years of international work to bring this urgently relevant piece to life. Inspired by real events in the early 17th century, Dmitry is a timely exploration of the historic and tragic conflict between Russia’s leaders and the West.
Marylebone Theatre, originally known as Steiner Hall, has recently been beautifully refurbished. A short walk from Baker Street, the theatre will produce its own work as well as receive incoming companies. As a mid-size venue (212 seats) with a West End-sized stage, it is perfect for music and dance as well as theatre. Further productions and music as part of the opening season will be announced. The theatre intends to carve out a special place on the London cultural scene as a beautiful and grand but intimate setting. Patrons of Marylebone Theatre include Academy Award-winning actor Sir Mark Rylance, director of the English National Opera Martyn Brabbins, and the esteemed cross-bench peer Baroness Usha Prasher.
Dmitry director Tim Supple said: “I can think of no more thrilling prospect than to open a new theatre space in London with a new play by the exceptional Peter Oswald. That this play should resurrect an unfinished work by Schiller and shine a brilliant light on a most urgent concern of the modern era is a further miracle. How daring to defy the challenges of our time and open a theatre with a verse drama that reaches back through the lens of a European master to grasp the intractable and thorny question of how it is that Russia and the West are locked in such a deadly embrace, and how it might be possible to transform bloodshed into kinship. A great matter of our time distilled into exhilarating human drama. The experience of a new old play in a brand new venue. What an offering to audiences and what a task for a director!”
The Dmitry cast and the remainder of the launch season will be announced in due course.
For more information and to book tickets, please click here.
