The House of Tudor Returns To GCTC With Kate Hennig's THE VIRGIN TRIAL

Lauded as one of Canada's most exciting playwrights, Kate Hennig is back at the Great Canadian Theatre Company with The Virgin Trial: the sequel to her 2016-17 smash hit The Last Wife. In The Virgin Trial, Hennig reimagines the story of young Elizabeth I as a modern day crime drama, full of political and sexual intrigue in the Tudor court. Directed by GCTC Artistic Director Eric Coates (Ordinary Days and Gracie), The Virgin Trial runs on the GCTC stage from September 11 - 30.

"The popularity of The Last Wife was no accident. Kate's scripts are magnetic, complex and terribly exciting. The Virgin Trial appeals to me not only as a director, but as an audience member, keen for intrigue and the eternal power struggle in our political systems," says Coates.

In The Virgin Trial, fifteen-year-old Elizabeth has been summoned to London to shed light on her relationship with Thom Seymour, brother to her interrogator, Ted Seymour. Thom is charged with treason for attempting to assassinate Elizabeth's nine-year-old brother, King Edward VI. As the investigation unfolds, Bess becomes dangerously implicated in the murder plot. How much does she know? Just how innocent is she? Hennig continues what she started on The Last Wife by cleverly exploring feminist themes of victim shaming, sexual consent, and female empowerment as she reimagines the scandalous and little-known story of Elizabeth I before she ascended to the throne.

Performances begin at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday -Friday. Saturday performances take place at 4:00 p.m. There are no Saturday evening performances for The Virgin Trial. Sunday matinee performances begin at 2:00 p.m. Pay-what-you-decide performance on Sunday, September 16 at 2:00 p.m. and a post-performance talkback will take place on the main stage on Thursday, September 20.

Tickets are on sale now at GCTC's Box Office at 1233 Wellington West at Holland, 613-236-5196 or GCTC.ca. Regular ticket price range: $42 to $58.Rush Tickets $15 for students; $33 for adults.

Tickets can be purchased in person from the GCTC Box Office after noon on the day of performance. Valid student ID required for Student Rush.ason.

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