Details

Marlowe's two plays based on the life of the 14th century conqueror Timur the Lame, were among the most successful on the Elizabethan stage. They are rarely performed in full today - producers and directors preferring to conflate the two plays in one. Part One charts Tamburlaine's ruthless rise from Scythian shepherd to 'most puissant and mightye monarque'. He conquers nearly every city and country on his maps of North Africa and the Middle East: Persia, Turkey, Fez, Argiers, Morocco, Damascus and Arabia. The number and nature of the deaths described or depicted on stage will startle the ear and eye. Only his love for the fair and divine Zenocrate rivals his lust for power. His final victory in this part is the defeat of Zenocrate's father, the Soldan of Egypt. For once Tamburlaine is 'compassionate' and restores the Soldan's lands. He does so standing over the dead bodies of the King of Arabia, Bajazeth, Emperor of Turkey, and Bajazeth's wife, and declares 'a truce with all the world'. But only until Part Two.

Cast/Performers

Greg Hicks (Tamburlaine), Kolade Agboke (Usumcasane), Tim Chipping (Cosroe / King of Jerusalem), David Hounslow (Soldan / Oracanes), Chuk Iwuji (Theridamus), Stephen Kennedy (Techelles), Jeffery Kissoon (Bajazeth), Ben Lambert (Basso / Celebinus), Vinta Morgan (Mycetes / Callapine), Ann Ogbomo (Zabina), Katy Stephens (Anippe / Olympia), Rachael Stirling (Zenocrate), Rachael Stirling (Zenocrate), Will Tacy (Almeda / Meander), Robert Vernon (Amyras / Ortygius), John Wark (Agydas / Calyphas)

Creatives/Company

Author: Christopher Marlowe
Producer(s): Bristol Old Vic, BITE:05, Barbican, Young Vic
Adapted by: David Farr
Director(s): David Farr, Yael Shavit (assistant)
Design: Ti Green
Lighting: Neil Austin
Music: Keith Clouston
Sound: Jason Barnes