Shakespeare's Globe Presents 'Liberty' by Glyn Maxwell

Shakespeare's Globe presents the second new play of its 2008 theatre season, "Liberty" by poet and playwright Glyn Maxwell, between 31 August and 4 October 2008. Directed by Guy Retallack and co-produced with Lifeblood Theatre Company, "Liberty" will be the Globe's first main stage production to embark on a national tour of the UK, which will visit York, Exeter, Guildford, Oxford, Warwick and Chichester during the autumn. Casting for this production includes Belinda Lang as Louise.

"Liberty", written in a contemporary verse form, is an adaptation of Anatole France's 1912 novel Les Dieux ont Soif. Set at the height of the 'Reign of Terror', it tells the story of Gamelin, a revolutionary young artist, who is appointed magistrate for the ruling forces. With wit and humanity, the play tells the story of how a group of friends are sundered by the force of history and mass hysteria; and how Gamelin's idealism turns into support for state violence.
 
Glyn Maxwell is a celebrated poet, novelist and playwright. His play Lifeblood was voted best play by the British Theatre Guide in 2004, and The Only Girl in the World was recently produced at the Arcola. His novel The Girl Who Was Going to Die was published in March this year, and Glyn's new book of poetry, Hide Now, will be available this autumn.

Guy Retallack's recent work includes Future Me (Theatre503), The Lifeblood (Edinburgh and Riverside) and Faster (Lyric Hammersmith, BAC and International Tour). Guy is also Director of Lifeblood Theatre Company, which was established to develop and produce innovative text-based theatre.

Belinda Lang will be best known for her television role as Bill in the BBC series 2 Point 4 Children. Her numerous stage credits include Ring Around the Moon (Playhouse Theatre), Hayfever (Haymarket Theatre), Forgotten Voices (Riverside Theatre and Assembly Rooms Edinburgh) and is currently appearing as Judith Bliss in Hay Fever (Manchester Royal Exchange).

"Liberty" will be designed by Ti Green, who recently designed The Revenger"s Tragedy (Olivier, National Theatre), The Five Wives of Maurice Pinder (Cottesloe, National Theatre), The Hound of the Baskervilles (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Watford Palace Theatre, Duchess Theatre London) and Coram Boy (Olivier, National Theatre).

Composer William Lyons is one of the UK's leading early music specialists and a founder member of the acclaimed early music ensemble The Dufay Collective. He recently worked as conductor for the Pride and Prejudice film; as music arranger on Elizabeth: The Golden Age; and composer for In Extremis (Shakespeare's Globe).

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