Abu dhabi is home to the regions biggest auditorium, the national theatre. Theatre director carrie cracknell and social affairs writer amelia gentleman explain how they cooked up the plays storecupboard challenge. Aug 08, 2014 beware this talk will make you rethink your entire life and work life changer duration. Jul 22, 2014 this is, incredibly, the first ever staging of medea in the national theatre s 50 year history. It has now arrived in the west end with a new cast featuring the talented fiona shaw who gives her best performance since her richard ii at the national in 1995. But when he abandons his family for a new life, medea faces banishment and separation from her children. Polly stenham s work at the national includes hotel. Ben power, writer of this version, and carrie cracknell, director, have. Cracknell provides an invaluable insight into the processes of rehearsing a play, conveys the thrill of sharing her work in front of an audience, and considers how extensive research allowed her to gain further context. Carrie cracknells work at the national includes the deep blue sea, medea and blurred lines. Thalheimer was extraordinarily successful at finding a theatrical form that maintained medeas otherworldliness, that made her bigger, greater. But carries just discovered shes got a special power, and if pushed too far, shes not afraid to use it. Carrie cracknell directed the criticallyacclaimed production of henrik ibsens a dolls house. The british film industry produced over six hundred feature films in 2014.
Our production staff has been building, creating, lighting, and playing along since may as well. Medea by euripides in a new version by ben power starring helen mccrory directed by carrie cracknell screening from october 4, 2014 as part of national theatre live find cinemas at. Hailed as one the best montreal productions of the decade, and winner of the 20102011 mecca award for best production, scapegoat carnivales medea debuted to soldout audiences at montreals centaur theatre in october 2010. And the national theatre has assembled quite a team for the purpose.
Oct 04, 2014 buy tickets, see upcoming sessions and read more about national theatre live. Medea euripidesben powercarrie cracknell, national theatre, london, august 2014 by holger syme on 07082014 2 comments this was the most disappointing piece of theatre ive seen at the nt in quite a few years. Jul 17, 2014 plainingly speaking, there are two reasons why the national theatre production of medea is all shades of brilliant. A fter her success with ibsens a dolls house, carrie cracknell now turns her directorial attention to an even more wronged heroine. Carrie cracknells production quakes with female rage and powerlessness. To mccrorys credit she does it openheartedly, and to the. Carrie cracknell now turns her directorial attention to an. Nt live broadcasts highdefintion performances of national theatre performances onto cinema screens around the world. Broadway veteran mark blum passes away from coronavirus complications. Carrie cracknells production for the national theatre draws medeas world unsettlingly close to our own, bringing euripides most terrible of family tragedies to a new level of domestic intimacy in an emphatically contemporary setting. All things considered, it was more good than bad, and the performances alone were well worth seeing. Medea, a woman stricken with grief after learning that her exhusband has decided to remarry is faced with impossible choices in this exhilarating and breathtaking adaptation of medea. Set in london in 1952, the deep bluesea is the story of hester collyer who attempts suicide following an affair with a former raf pilot.
More events at popular venues at abu dhabi national exhibition centre adnec abu dhabi international boa. National theatre live 2014 carrie cracknellross macgibbon. W hen carrie cracknell set about creating a new version of medea for the national theatre, she faced two challenges as a director. I think the biggest challenge of being a theatre director is to create a structure which gives a coherence to tell a story.
Carrie cracknell and tom scutt on medea national theatre. At school, shes an outcast whos bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. This article fully lists all nonpornographic films, including short films, that had a release date in that year and. Carrie the musical at near west theatre opens on friday, july 21. Medea oct 20, 1947 national theatre revival medea may 2, 1949 city center revival medea jan 17, 1973 circle in the square theatre revival medea apr 7, 1994 longacre theatre revival. The most recent medea, in mike bartletts version for headlong with rachael stirling was more bloodcurdling, but confined to modernday suburbia, to the diminution of the play and an incorrect representation of medeas pedigree.
Medea national theatre collection on drama online trailer. Jul 22, 2014 helen mccrory returns to the national theatre in the title role of euripides play about a woman who kills her children in. Carrie cracknell and tom scutt on medea what is national theatre live. Medea plays at studio underground at the state theatre centre until 25 august, tickets here. The obvious one was how to deal with the psychology of an. The director, carrie cracknell, is clearly fascinated by women at the end of their rope.
Following government advice about coronavirus, the national theatre building is currently closed to the public until 30 june. Cracknell was artistic director of the gate theatre from 2007 to 2012, and associate director at both the young vic 2012 and the royal court 2014. Now, as in the golden age of greek drama, the chief interest is in the way the tale is told. We have also reached out to ccp and the national commission for culture. Carrie cracknell theatre credits, news, bio and photos. The themes and dialogues between husband and wife are so contemporary that the question arises, have we advanced our. Euripides medea, who avenges herself on jason by murdering their two children.
At the heart of the theatre is a 2,250seat auditorium. Carrie cracknell and tom scutt on medea listen to the podcast. Based on stephen kings bestselling novel, the musical of carrie hasnt been seen since its legendary 1988 broadway production. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The twolevel stage design from tom scutt splits the interior of medeas house from the streets of creon, but more than this, it employs a dark forest as a metaphor for the dark places of medeas mind. As we enter, her little sons are already playing with toys in front of the tv, lying on the floor in. Helen mccrory medea and the last of the haussmans at the national theatre. Julie is at the national theatre from may 31 september 8. She was associate director at both the young vic 201220 and the royal court 202014.
Can they still have that powerful, enlightening and cathartic effect they were originally intended to have. Jul 24, 2014 this is the plays first production by the national theatre and director carrie cracknell has been given a free rein to drag it kicking and bleeding on to the olivier stage. National theatre live has announced an international broadcast of the national theatre of great britains production of euripides greek tragedy medea, in a new version by ben power, directed by. With a play like medea, its prim and proper that a star dominates the story. In the last year or so, london has welcomed a flurry of greek drama to its stages. However, without a strong through line, medea unfortunately had some of the timeless power sucked from it. Carrie cracknell was artistic director of the gate theatre, 200712, and is an associate director the royal court and an associate artist of the young vic.
Carrie cracknell plugs the gap now with this horribly gripping, scrupulously judicious moderndress production part of the oliviers. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing national theatre live. Carrie cracknell directs helen mccrory in ben powers adaption of medea at the national theatre. Medea euripidesben powercarrie cracknell, national theatre. At 32, carrie cracknell, one of the uks star theatre directors. Infidelity, revenge, infanticide the greek tragedy medea has it all. Proof that a great revenge tale never gets old, medea is still shockingly modern as it explores themes that remain vital today. She was artistic director of the gate theatre, london from 20072012. Carrie cracknell carrie cracknell directed the criticallyacclaimed production of henrik ibsens a dolls house. And the muchmaligned musical about the shy, fearful teen outcast carrie white, who becomes an incendiary avenger after being subjected to a monstrous highschool prank, will open in seattle this.
Medea is faced with separation from the children she has had for her husband, who has abandoned her and so enacts a dreadful revenge. Medeas grief is driven to extreme madness by the betrayal of her husband, jason. An incredible cast of 42 1625 year olds have been hard at work in rehearsals since may. The director of the national theatres new production tells. Cracknells critically acclaimed new production stars helen mccroy and tom burke. Internationally, it is known as the national theatre of great britain. Jul 15, 2014 w hen carrie cracknell set about creating a new version of medea for the national theatre, she faced two challenges as a director. National theatre live is the national theatres groundbreaking project to broadcast worldclass. New abu dhabi theatre group seeks to tap emirati talent. Medea, kathleen turner and noel coward on london stages.
Its an omission all the more remarkable, given the complex feminist issues raised by euripides. If carrie cracknell and ben powers new production of medea, now playing at the nationals olivier theatre, is anything to go by then the answer is yes, they definitely can. Medea, a woman stricken with grief after learning that her. Apart as this medea may be in temperamant, shes no suspicious foreigner like the original sorceress, rather a writer complementary to actorspouse back in. Cracknell and power outline the cultural and psychological parameters far more convincingly, and its not the. Helen mccrory takes the title role in euripides powerful tragedy, in this new version directed by carrie cracknell. May 03, 20 at 32, carrie cracknell, one of the uks star theatre directors, is making her first foray into opera. As edith hall, in the programme notes for carrie cracknells production of ben powers new adaptation of euripides masterpiece which is now playing at the olivier theatre at the national, says.
Director carrie cracknell and writer polly stenham on. Directed by carrie cracknell, cast includes helen mccrory medea, michaela coel, danny sapani, cath whitefield. Cracknell provides an invaluable insight into the processes of rehearsing a play, conveys the thrill of sharing her work in front of an audience, and considers how. Helen mccrory in euripedes medea at the national theatre. Theres no point, though, in making comparisons with helen mccrorys euripides heroine at the national. If youre not familiar with the story of medea most famously recounted by euripides in the eponymous greek tragedy then grab a stiff drink, dont give me. She exacts an appalling revenge and destroys everything she holds dear. Actor helen mccrory, writer ben power and director carrie cracknell talk about euripides medea as a contemporary story and how it is still a relevant play for today. The larger world of the play is set in march 2000, when the abu sayyaf raided.
Helen mccrory the last of the haussmans takes the title role in euripides powerful tragedy, in a new version by ben power, directed by carrie cracknell, with. Carrie the musical is one of those shows, like sondheims merrily we roll along or schwartzs the bakers. Melbourne choreographer creates dance for national theatre britain the age talks to lucy guerin read full interview. Helen mccrory stars in the title role in carrie cracknell s production of medea, the euripides tragedy, adapted by ben power for the national theatre. Event cinema the simultaneous broadcast of a live theatre performance into cinemas around the world has several advantages over traditional performances. For the sake of her husband, jason, shes left her home and borne two sons in exile. Medeas pain drives her into madness and her revenge is so horrific, that one should ask, who has committed the worst crime. She exacts an appalling revenge and destroys everything she holds. National theatre live is national theatres groundbreaking project to broadcast the best of british theatre to cinemas in the uk and internationally. National theatre will stream nt live productions for free on youtube. National theatre live is the national theatre s groundbreaking project to broadcast worldclass theatre to cinemas in the uk and internationally. National theatre live to broadcast medea, starring helen. He has left her for the beautiful younger princess of corinith.
Beyond the veil, a new theatre company in the capital is looking to expose theatregoers to emirati theatre by staging plays by emirati. The national theatres new production addresses itself to the modern condition, helped by music from the artpop duo. Were proud to support the shakespeare theatre companys presentation of national theatre live nt live and the production of medea, starring helen mccrory. Inaugurated in 1981, the national theatre is an integrated complex for staging plays, screening movies, and hosting conferences and exhibitions. Can greek tragedies really resonate with audiences today. Now, the shows original authors have joined with director stafford arima altar boyz and mcc theater for a newly reworked and fully reimagined vision of this gripping tale. Carrie cracknell born 1980 is a british theatre director. The royal national theatre in london, commonly known as the national theatre nt, is one of the united kingdoms three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the royal shakespeare company and the royal opera house. Nt theatre production translated by ben powers, directed by carrie cracknell posted on october 6, 2014 by annebuist the curse of our childrens blood be on you jason to medea philip vellacott translation. Jul 22, 2014 now, as in the golden age of greek drama, the chief interest is in the way the tale is told. At home, shes at the mercy of her loving but cruelly overprotective mother. National theatre new season april oct 2014 londontheatre.
Helen mccrory ascends to greatness in the title role of euripidess medea, and carrie cracknells. With helen mccrory, danny sapani, michaela coel, martin turner. Helen mccrory stars in medea, national theatre the story of a jilted wife, who murders her children as a way of revenge against her soontobe exhusband is always going to be dark but. The national theatres production sees medea as a refugee, and casts corinth as a humid, sweltering place of decaying splendour. Passion, love and revenge all come into play in classical playwright euripides ancient greek tragedy. After her success with ibsens a dolls house, carrie cracknell now turns her directorial attention to an. Carrie cracknell also brought in choreographer lucy guerin to transform the women of creon into an army of contemporary dancers, almost. A barbarian sorceress is abandoned by her warhero husband for a greek princess, turning to the ultimate murder for revenge in euripedes tragedy. Meet the director of carrie the musical near west theatre. Jul 26, 2014 a new moderndress production of that play at the national theater, directed by the brainstorming carrie cracknell, is homing in on these parallels. Carrie cracknell s production quakes with female rage and powerlessness. But there is more to medea than a black heart and a maniacal gleam in the eye. Managed by the ministry of culture, youth and community development, the theatre houses a 2,253 seater auditorium with a stage and stateoftheart lighting, sound and film equipment.
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