Dido, Queen of Carthage - National Theatre 2009

Genre: Drama
Opened 24 March 2009
Written: by Christopher Marlowe
Directed: James Macdonald
Cast: Anastasia Hille (Dido), Mark Bonnar (Aeneas), Siobhan Redmond (Venus)
Synopsis: Seeking refuge from a violent storm, Aeneas lands on the shores of Carthage where Queen Dido, moved by his retelling of the fall of Troy and betwitched by a malevolent Cupid, soon burns with love. Their ensuing passion, manipulated by the watching, warring gods, can only end in tragedy.

What the popular press had to say.....
NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Despite its limitations, this is an astonishing period-piece, illuminated by flashes of poetry as startling as Shakespeare's." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Painfully slow and lacklustre production." MICHAEL COVENEY for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Riveting revival...The show's a serious pleasure. " MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "Macdonald's tempo may be a little unvaried. But he brings out the haunting beauty of Marlowe's language...I found it inspiriting to see a forgotten dramatic landmark rendered with such style and dignity." NATASHA TRIPNEY for THE STAGE says, "A drawn out and curiously old-fashioned staging." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "I'm glad I saw it capably staged...But you're unlikely to want to see it again."

External links to full reviews from popular press
The Guardian
The Independent
The Times
Daily Telegraph

Production photo by Johan Persson

Originally published on

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