An inventive reimagining of The Duchess of Malfi, a classic tale of revenge, is being staged at ARC theatre in Stockton-on-Tees on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 April in a collaborative production by The Northern School of Art‘s stage and screen degree programmes.

Students from the Acting, Film, TV & Theatre Production, Production Design and Costume Interpretation with Design courses are presenting an exciting night of theatre, retelling a classic story in a new and dynamic way.

“Whether we fall by ambition, blood or lust, Like diamonds we are cut with our own dust.”

Loosely based on true events, John Webster’s 1612 sensational, gruesome, and shocking psychological Jacobean thriller, is a cynical study of ambition, lust and murder in a corrupt Italian Renaissance court.

The play tells the story of a Duchess who marries beneath her social class and is persecuted and tortured by her brothers, the insane Ferdinand and the pious Cardinal. They hire a spy, Daniel de Bosola, to track her movements. Bosola, however, has a crisis of conscience and vows a bloody revenge on the two brothers after a series of violent events.

The Northern School of Art’s anarchic and innovative reimagining of the play means that audiences can forget what they expect about classical theatre and the production includes a chorus that will explain any archaic and questionable references.

Rehearsals are well underway, as pictured above. Second year Acting degree student Tom Maddocks said: “Working on Malfi has been great fun, with laughs and serious moments throughout. People can expect to see an outrageous tragedy, that’s so unbelievable it’s almost believable.

“There is comedy combined with naturalism and it all amounts to a great show. People should come and see the show so they can be uplifted, feel sad, and have a laugh all at the same time.”

Fellow Acting student Phoebe Pybus-Coates added: “I have found working on Malfi so far really fun and rewarding, as it has been a very collaborative piece in the rehearsal space. I am enjoying experimenting and working with a new style of language.

“The contemporary approach to Malfi will allow people to feel humoured and will give them a guiding hand to properly understand the production.”

The Duchess of Malfi presented by The Northern School of Art is at ARC, Stockton Arts Centre, Dovecot Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1LL. Performances are at 7pm on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 April. Tickets are Pay What You Decide and are available HERE

To find out more about about the wide range of Stage and Screen programmes at The Northern School of Art, including Acting, Film, TV & Theatre Production, Production Design and Costume Interpretation with Design, click HERE