- November 2008
Set in the 1970s, Mike Leigh's play satirises the aspirations and tastes of the emerging middle class in his suburban comedy of manners. As Abigail throws a party down the road, Beverly decides to entertain her neighbours, assuming the role of a somewhat overbearing host. Leigh's perceptive dialogue provides moments of both hilarity and painful awkwardness as these five vibrant characters interact. His characters' preoccupation with social decorum creates a world in which everyone is playing a part but, ultimately, reality must surface.
The play consists entirely of freshers from St. Catharine's college, and so is a great way to see some of the new talent on the Cambridge scene.
- November 2007
Come and see Noel Coward's delightful comedy of discriminating tastes and dirty little secrets, Relative Values!
Nigel, the Earl of Marshwood, woos Hollywood star Miranda Frayle, upsetting both his mother, Countess Felicity of Marshwood, and her former love, fellow Hollywood star Don Lucas. Just before the engagement party to be held at Marshwood, Moxie, the Countess's personal maid and best friend reveals that Miranda is actually her estranged sister. Crestwell, the Countess's butler, quickly devises a plan, but all hell breaks loose....
Takes place at the Octagon on the 24th, 26th and 27th of November. The show will begin at 7.30pm. Tickets are ₤3.50.
- March 2006
Many people have seen 'The Vagina Monologues' in recent years, but now we need a team to bring the production to Cambridge. Through monologues that are entertaining, educating and emancipating, the play explores women's relationships with their vaginas and with themselves. The Vagina Monologues is staged across the world between Valentine's Day and International Women's Day as part of the V-Day movement, which aims to raise money for local women's charities and to raise awareness of violence against women.
- October 2005
GERARDO What if he has nothing to confess?
PAULINA Tell him if he doesn't confess, I'll kill him.
GERARDO But what if he's not guilty?
PAULINA If he's innocent? Then he's really screwed.
A man sits bound and gagged in a living room, accused of the most terrible of crimes. A woman, haunted by a brutal past, points a gun at him. Her husband looks on in horror. Can this charming doctor really be a sadistic torturer? Can the innocent confess to crimes they did not commit?
Ariel Dorfman's taut thriller about torture and guilt is brought to vivid and shocking life.
Visit: www.deathandthemaiden.co.uk
To book tickets, email tickets@deathandthemaiden.co.uk
- February 2005
- November 2004
LIFE: The work of John Donne.
CANCER: Ovarian; aggressively metastatic.
DEATH.
This award-winning play stretches one woman's emotional solitude in the long journey through cancer. Professor Vivian Bearing undergoes chemotherapy that drains her of all energy and reserve. As the treatment and tumours progress, Vivian comes to depend on simple human kindness, and reassesses with profundity and humour, the principles which guided her life.
With proceeds to Cancer Research
- April–May 2004
Henrik Ibsen's masterpiece is being brought to the Octagon Theatre. This production moves events to the 'roaring 20s' as newly-weds Hedda and George Tesman return home, Hedda begins to understand fully the stifling confinement to which she has condemned herself, and seeks to restore 'beauty' and meaning to her life. The opportunity presents itself in the return to town of an old flame and academic rival of George's, but as events unfold it becomes clear that the mundane and the ridiculous have a habit of suppressing and ruining the truly beautiful. A blackly humourous and subtly powerful piece, 'Hedda Gabler' is one of the most poignant tragedies ever written.
- November 2003
Returning to Argos, Orestes finds his mother married to his father's murderer, and his sister Electra working as their skivvy. Meanwhile, the gods send flies to plague the city, revenge for the regicide the people have permitted. Set in a nineteenth century mental asylum, Sartre’s absurdist reworking of this Greek tragedy is an intelligent and disturbing study of madness.
- November 2002
BLOOD. DESIRE. REVENGE. Tragedy fuels tragedy when Tereus rapes his wife's sister, Philomele. Erotic, elegant, violent and magical: Timberlake Wertenbaker stunningly adapts this powerful Greek myth to create a compelling and thought-provoking drama. Amidst the intimacy of the Octagon, let sixteen actors guide you amongst acrobatics, masked plays and frenzied Bacchic rites.
- November 2001
Post-revolutionary France, 1808. In the baths of a lunatic asylum sits thMarquis de Sade, imprisoned for gross acts of indecency and sexual violenceHe has written a play about Jean Paul Marat, a revolutionary activist, whicis to be performed by the inmates. The story of an assassination unfolds withilarious black comedy entwined with tragedy in a collision of theatre, musicfilm and art. The Club’s ‘Elsewhere’ show is going to transform The Octagointo an Orwellian insane asylum. All hell is about to break loose... You are invited to watch.
