Mary Stuart - Review

Genre: Drama
Opened 20 July 2005
Written: by Friedrich Schiller in a new version by Peter Oswald
Directed: Phyllida Lloyd
Producer: Donmar Warehouse
Cast: Janet McTeer, Harriet Walter , David Burke, James Fleet, Barbara Jefford, Rory Kinnear, Tam Dean Burn, Stephen Fletcher, Guy Henry, David Horovitch, Rufus Wright
Synopsis: An account of the extraordinary relationship between England's Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots.

What the critics had to say.....
PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Superb...this starkly staged interpretation succeeds better than any that I have seen in laying bare the drama's structural cunning and psychological acumen." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "Fine production...Terrific acting, terrific theatre, terrific Schiller." NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Lucid production...All through Mary Stuart, Schiller subtly interweaves the political and personal, playing up the warring queens' sexual rivalry." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "exhilarating production....Lloyd has taken a bold decision. She puts Schiller's rival queens, Mary and Elizabeth, into period costume and the surrounding male courtiers into modern dress. Immediately this makes the point, like Andrea Breth's Vienna Burgtheater production that came to Edinburgh, that the two women are similarly isolated and imprisoned." DOMINIC CAVENDISH for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "In Phyllida Lloyd's magnificent new revival, is to recognise that Schiller's figments of fancy are underpinned by a sure grasp of deep-running political processes." PETER HEPPLE for THE STAGE says, " In every way, it is a engrossing evening."

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