"The Rape of Lucrece" to be staged at the British Arts Centre in Buenos Aires

"FROM the besieged Ardea all in post,
Borne by the trustless wings of false desire,
Lust-breathed Tarquin leaves the Roman host,
And to Collatium bears the lightless fire
Which, in pale embers hid, lurks to aspire
And girdle with embracing flames the waist
Of Collatine's fair love, Lucrece the chaste."


William Shakespeare was fond of recreating legends and references to historical events and that passion certainly was in his heart when he composed the dramatic poem, “The Rape of Lucrece” to be staged in English at the British Arts Centre in Buenos Aires on April 25^th.

He likely drew inspiration from Ovid’s Fasti and Livy’s history of Rome. In 509 BC, Sextus Tarquinius, son of Tarquin, king of Rome, raped Lucretia (Lucrece), wife of Collatinus, one of the king’s aristocratic backers.

That led Lucrece to commit suicide. Her body was then paraded in the Roman Forum by the king’s nephew and that brought about a full-scale revolt against Tarquins, commanded by Lucius Junius Brutus. The royal family was banished and the Republic of  Rome was founded.

The performance will be subtitled in Spanish for those spectators who do not understand English. Shakespeare’s majestic poem is about the abuse of power, the rape of a woman by a supposedly “untouchable” political personality and the following popular uprising.

As is his style, the language  in the poem varies from amazingly and brutally direct to movingly poetic and included high level philosophical arguments. The direction by Mónica Maffía stresses the musicality of the text, the expressive use of voice and body.

The debut of the play will be Friday April 25th at 8:30 pm. 
Subsequent performances will be on May 9^th, 16 and 23.

Cast:

Dirección y Actuación: Mónica Maffía

Música original: Ricardo Vergani

Asistente: José Pirolo

Diseño Gráfico: Florencia Palet

Soporte técnico: Daniel Campoya

Reservas e Informes:

informes@britishartscentre.org.ar

Tel 4393 6941 - Suipacha 1333

Lunes a viernes de 16 a 21 hs.

facebook.com/britishartscentre