Rachel Stirling to Play Medea in Mike Bartlett’s Contemporary Adaptation

Rachael Stirling will play the title role of Medea in a new version by Mike Bartlett which will have its world premiere at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow this autumn before touring to London and across the UK.

Twice nominated for the Olivier award for Best Supporting Actress, Rachael was most recently seen on stage in The Recruiting Officer at the Donmar Warehouse.  Her other theatre credits include An Ideal Husband (Vaudeville Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rose Theatre, Kingston), The Prioty (Royal Court), Uncle Vanya and Look Back in Anger (Theatre Royal Bath).

Rachael’s television and film credits include recent box office hit Snow White and The Huntsman, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,Women in Love, Boy Meets Girl and Tipping The Velvet.  She has just finished shooting an episode of Dr Who written specifically for her by Mark Gatiss and will next be seen on Television screens in ITV 1’s The Bletchley Circle.

Mike Bartlett, one of the UK's most exciting and in demand young writers will also direct this contemporary staging of one of the most timeless and primal myths of western civilisation. In this chilling study of passion, love and vengeance; Bartlett transforms the wronged everywoman of Greek mythology into a recognisable and fallible woman of today.

Her husband Jason has left her for a younger woman and her future seems futile without him.  Alone in her marital home, Medea can't work, can't sleep and increasingly can't cope. Unhinged by grief, while her son plays she plots a terrible vengeance.

This startlingly contemporary version explores the private fury bubbling under public behaviour and how in today's world a mother, fuelled by anger at her husband's infidelity, might be driven to commit the worst possible crime.

Mike Bartlett’s previous work with Headlong includes Decade, Earthquakes in London and a new commission for 2013. Other work includes: Chariots of Fire (Hampstead Theatre/Gielgud), Love, Love, Love (Paines Plough and Royal Court)and Cock (Royal Court/Off-Broadway - Olivier Award).

The full casting for Medea will be announced soon.

CITIZENS THEATRE TICKETS
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ADDITIONAL TOUR LISTINGS
Tuesday 16 to Saturday 27 October
Watford Palace Theatre
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Tuesday 30 October to Saturday 3 November
Northern Stage
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Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 November
Sherman Cymru
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Tuesday 13 to Saturday 17 November
Warwick Arts Centre
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Richmond Theatre
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Wednesday 28 November to Saturday 1 December
Exeter Northcott Theatre
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