Based on the original play, this story tells the story of revenge, misogyny, love, abuse, violence, bullying, and a woman’s cautionary tell of the men in her life trying to control her destiny through sheer patriarchy. I had the pleasure of watching this extraordinary play before its run finished in December 2024, and I was fascinated by the subject matter and with the opportunity to watch Jodie Whittaker (Attack The Block, Doctor Who, Broadchurch) on stage. Whittaker did not disappoint. She puts in a visceral and electric performance that jolts you as an audience member. Considering the political climate across the pond and around the world, the subject of misogynic attitudes, control, and women rights couldn’t be more sadly relevant today, which is so unbelievable in 2024. Jodie’s character of the Duchess falls in love with a man perceived below her class and against the wishes of her brothers, beginning the journey of the mental and physical torture towards her by them. We witness the consequences this will have on her, her friends, and her family as things descend into bitter chaos and the Duchess’s attempts to live her life are sabotaged at various turns through power, control, envy, anger, evil intentions, and wickedness. John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi (1614) is a fascinating and powerful modern play as it centers on a female protagonist’s lived experience during times that were unpleasant and harsh for women, contrasted with the men trying to control their own narrative and lives of these women. Writer & Director Zinnie Harris’s modern re-telling and re-tooling of this iconic play is both powerful and brutal in how it does not run away from the subject matter, really educating you on the the Duchess’s experience. The play is unapologetically violent and visceral to the audience where some of the scenes made for uncomfortable but necessary moments as you live her trials and tribulations with her. Whittaker exudes a certain charisma and likability in her performances which entices you to go on the journey with her, backed by a very talented cast. The play ran until December 20th 2024 at The Trafalgar Theatre in London. Jodie Whittaker is backed by a super talented cast including Joel Fry, Rory Fleck Byrne, Jude Owusu, Paul Ready, Elizabeth Ayodele, Hubert Burton, Matti Houghton, Hannah Visocchi, Kerill Kelly, Greg Snowden, and Amy Vicary Smith.
(Below is the Trailer)
Official Synopsis (below) from : https://trafalgartheatre.com/shows/the-duchess/
Directed by Zinnie Harris
Starring Jodie Whittaker
Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) takes on the role of a lifetime in Zinnie Harris’ acclaimed contemporary adaptation of The Duchess of Malfi.
Recently widowed and in search for a new lease of life, the Duchess (Whittaker) defies her family’s wishes by remarrying beneath her class. However, when her brothers, driven by insurmountable greed and rage, discover her second marriage they unleash a series of cruel and devastating punishments against her that repress her power. But will their vicious atrocities come back to haunt them?
Directed and adapted by award-winning Zinnie Harris (Macbeth (an undoing)), this “towering adaptation” (The Stage) of John Webster’s thrilling drama The Duchess of Malfi explores the depths of the patriarchy against female resistance.
In a interview with Tatler magazine below Jodie Whittaker speaks about the play The Duchess of Malfi:
‘‘The main bit that scares me is the technical facts of singing,’ she says of the play’s musical sequences, ‘I’m first to get up and do karaoke, but it’s a whole different beast making sure you tell the story within a song’ – Jodie Whittaker
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