Lazarus Theatre to bring The Changeling to Southwark Playhouse this autumn

Lazarus Theatre has announced a return to Southwark Playhouse this autumn with a haunting adaptation of The Changeling.

The new radical staging of Thomas Middleton and William Rowley’s rarely staged play will run from 28 September – 28 October 2023, directed by Ricky Dukes.

Returning to the company and leading as the fierce Beatrice Joanna is Colette O’Rourke (Henry V, Union Theatre; Troilus & Cressida, Tristan Bates Theatre; Caucasian Chalk Circle, Greenwich Theatre). Playing opposite her in this twisted romance and returning to the Lazarus Company as the haunted De Flores is Jamie O’Neill (Doctor Faustus, Salomé, Southwark Playhouse; Macbeth, Greenwich Theatre). The two descend into a hellish chaos plagued by ghosts and lunatics, leading to one of the bloodiest and ferocious climaxes of the English stage. Also returning to the company are Hamish Somers, Henrietta Rhodes, Mikko Juan and Kiera Murray.

Making his Lazarus debut is Mylo McDonald (Looking Good Dead, UK Tour; SALT, Contemporary Ritual Theatre; Thas’ a Rummun, Seagull Theatre), taking on the role of nobleman and suitor Alsemero. Joining him in making their Lazarus debuts are Emma Wilkinson Wright, Alex Bird, Olsen Elezi and Dane Williams.

Stuck within the depths of a glamorous masculine society, The Changeling centres around a powerful and lustful woman who catastrophically turns against what is expected of her. When Beatrice Joanna enlists the assistance of her devoted yet repulsive servant De Flores in ridding her of the unwanted suitor she is betrothed to, she unwittingly becomes tangled in the grasps of a much more dangerous and abhorrent relationship.

Fuelled by an unexplainable and sadistic pull to each other, Beatrice and De Flores spiral into an epic horror, taking the audience with them as they face ghosts and lunatics along with their twisted compulsion for one another. This dramatic and energetic plot with the dedication to push the physicality of theatre will get the blood pumping and hearts racing.

In this epic theatrical showcase, the award-winning ensemble company who reimagine and revitalise classic plays in visual, visceral and vibrant productions, will push the boundaries of modern theatre and the expectations of being taken on a journey. Presenting intense visuals, sharp and fast-paced staging as well as striking bloody action, The Changeling is for audiences looking to experience a trip into the uncanny and immersive.

Director Ricky Dukes said: “Middleton and Rowley’s The Changeling is one of, if not, the best tragedies of the English Renaissance. It packs a punch, is entirely unapologetic, gutsy and full throttle, gloriously gory and theatrically daring. We can’t wait to return to Southwark Playhouse where we are transforming the auditorium into a Mad Men inspired in-the-round supercharged bunker. Things will definitely get messy. It’s going to be quite the ride.”

For more information and tickets, visit southwarkplayhouse.co.uk