Mon - Wed at 7.30pm; Thu - Sat at 8pm

Matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm (from 6 November)

“To all married men be this a caution

which they should duly tender as their life:

Neither to dote too much or doubt a wife”

Matthias, a young knight of Bohemia, goes off to the wars, taking with him an enchanted image of his wife Sophia which – his friend Baptisa assures him – will indicate her constancy. If she is challenged in love in his absence, the picture will yellow; if she succumbs, it will blacken.

Matthias’ subsequent martial success is brought to the attention of the King, and he is invited to Court. There, the Queen falls for the soldier and vows both to seduce him and to test his wife’s fidelity…

 Artistic Director Philip Wilson directs a revival of this Renaissance epic by Salisbury-born Philip Massinger. This Sumptuous production transposes the action to the mid-nineteenth century – and the birth of that other ‘magic picture’, the photograph. It marks the 175th anniversary of the famous Oriel window negative, taken by Fox Talbot at Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, and considered to be the first known photograph.

“Superlative... terrifically enjoyable”

**** Daily Telegraph on Philip Wilson’s production of Private Lives

[S] Setting the Scene with Philip Wilson

Wednesday 10 November

[D] Theatre Day

Thursday 18 November, 11.30am

[T] Talk Out: Post Show Discussion

Tuesday 23 November

 [B] BSL interpreted performance

Wednesday 24 November, 7.30pm

[A] Audio described performances

Thursday 25 November, 2.30pm & 8pm

This production is kindly sponsored by Frank and Elizabeth Brenan

Photo: c. V&A Images, Victoria and Albert Museum

Creative Team