Maria Stuart

Terrorists, conspiracies, arbitrary arrest and detention, interrogation and intercepted correspondence – SLG presents a blistering new production of Schiller’s eerily resonant masterpiece.

Two religions divide a people and a land.
Two rulers exploit religion to control their people.
Maria Stuart’s head is on the block – she has three days to save herself or be saved.
Queen Elizabeth wants her dead but doesn’t want to get her hands dirty.
Two women fight tooth and claw for power in a man’s world.

2005 commemorates the 2nd Centenary of Friedrich Schiller’s death. Schiller wrote Maria Stuart in response to the political turbulence caused by the American and French revolutions. But his themes – the individual versus the state… religion versus the state… freedom of the individual – still prevail in today’s post-911 climate. In Maria Stuart, Schiller offers a disturbing analysis of the problems that arise whenever political expediency masquerades as justice and judges are subjected to the pressures of power politics or ideological conflict.

After their sell-out success with The Kisses, a new adaptation of the Dracula legend, at the Courtyard Theatre, SLG is proud to announce the return of Rebecca Mordan to the company in a leading role (as Elizabeth) and to welcome newcomers Nick Ash, David Newman, Lucinda Raikes, Livy Armstrong, Lesley Stone, Nicholas Ash, John Gorrick, David Newman and Patrick Taggart. The cast, between them, have worked at the National, the RSC and the Almeida and their most recent TV appearances include the transatlantic cult hit Lexx, Channel Four’s Paper Tigers season and the BBC’s Casanova, Tales of Uplift and Moral Improvement, People Like Us and Green Wing.

Maria Stuart will be directed by Ryan McBryde, Resident Director on Bat Boy – The Musical and Artistic Director of Rogue State Theatre Company. (“The way Rogue State do it I could watch for hours.” Time Out.)

London-based SCARY LITTLE GIRLS was established in 2002 by a group of artists committed to re-telling well-known stories from a different viewpoint or focusing on little-known tales and characters. SLG presents high-quality productions with a political and feminist significance to modern audiences.

For further information email: [email protected]

Ticket bookings can also be made through the theatre on 0207 2619876.