Retells 20 years of the French Wars of Religion, from the notorious 1572 St Bartholomew's Day Massacre, through the poisoning of Charles IX, to the coronation and subsequent assassination of his flamboyant, homosexual brother Henry III. The play's anti-hero, the villainous Duke of Guise, aided by the Machiavellian Queen Mother, Catherine de Medici, proves the ultimate Marlovian over-reacher. For the first time in over four centuries, Christopher Marlowe's brutal, incendiary and extraordinary last play returns to the Rose. First performed in January 1593, just four months before his murder, Marlowe's dramtisation of the St Batholomew's Day Massacre and its aftermath. retelling contemporary French history 1572-1589. It is the often viewed as the most controversial play of its time.| 11 Mar 14 to 29 Mar 14 | The Rose Playhouse Inner London, Greater London Performance Details => Venue archive |
