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The Marlowe Festival

 

Celebrating the 450th anniversary of the birth of one of Cambridge University’s brightest alumni: Christopher Marlowe. Long recognised as one of the country’s most ambitious and influential student drama groups, in 2013 the Marlowe Society took on its biggest challenge yet: the staging of the complete works of Marlowe over the course of one year. Produced by Lily Staff (2013-2014) and Alex Cartlidge (2014).

marlowe society festival dido queen of carthage
DIDO, QUEEN OF CARTHAGE
EMANUEL CHAPEL, NOV 12-15 2013
THE SENATE HOUSE, NOV 16 2013

The tragedy of 'Dido, Queen of Carthage' differs from the beautifully lyrical plays we expect from Marlowe. Instead the raw and poignant language echoes the plays instable setting of a war torn world inhabited by jealous and scheming Gods. Scattered with deception and consumed with jealousy the play centres around Dido’s madly fanatic love for Aeneas. Directed by Michael Oakley.

marlowe society festival massacre at paris
THE MASSACRE AT PARIS
 
ADC THEATRE, FEB 12-15 2014

Paris is on edge. France is at war with itself as Protestant and Catholic vie for control. The King of France decides that it is time to remove the 'threat' once and for all while his loyal advisor, the Duke of Guise maintains his own pursuit of power. And so begins one of the bloodiest massacres of French history. Directed by Gareth Mattey.

marlowe society festival edward ii
EDWARD II
 
PEMBROKE NEW CELLARS, OCT 28-NOV 1 2014

The King of England is in love, and the nobles are none too happy about it. The last and arguably most mature of Christopher Marlowe's works, 'Edward II' deals with the brutal struggles and betrayals leading to the downfall of one of England's most notorious kings. Directed by Elias Wynshaw.

marlowe society festival doctor faustus
DOCTOR FAUSTUS
 
CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE, JAN 29-FEB 1 2014

Faustus is a brilliant academic whose destructive thirst for knowledge leads him to damnation when he sells his soul to Lucifer. From the splendour of Emperor Charles V’s court to the excesses of the Pope’s banquet, Faustus experiences all the earthly delights on offer in this world and beyond with his devilish companion, Mephistopheles. But his time is fast running out. Directed by Drew Mulligan.

marlowe society festival jew of malta
THE JEW OF MALTA
 
 
CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE OLD COURT, JUNE 20 2014
 

'The Jew of Malta' tells of the exploits of Barabas and his pursuit to protect his most cherished riches from the Maltese people that will deal in blood and murder to wrench free his precious gold. Rife with prejudice, excess and sheer barbarity, this precursor to 'The Merchant of Venice' is Elizabethan theatre at its most Machiavellian. Directed by Arif Khan.

marlowe society festival tamburlaine the great
TAMBURLAINE THE GREAT
 
MICHAELHOUSE CHANCEL, NOV 14-15 2014

The eponymous Tamburlaine rises from being a lowly shepherd to forging one of the largest empires the world has ever known. Ultimately, with no earthly kingdoms left to conquer, Tamburlaine takes up arms against God himself, daring Him to end his reign. A stunning portrait of a brilliant yet savage man. Directed by Olivia Morgan.

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