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McTeer Leads Duchess of Malfi for National & Tour

Janet McTeer (pictured) will return to the stage in the new year to assume the title role in John Webster's 17th-century classic The Duchess of Malfi at the National Theatre (See The Goss, 17 Oct 2002). The new production, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, opens on 28 January 2003 (previews from 18 January) at the NT Lyttelton, where it will play in repertoire before touring regionally for three months from 18 March to 14 June 2003.

One of the great Jacobean tragedies, The Duchess of Malfi charts the calamitous consequences of a young widow's refusal to obey her brothers' command never to remarry. When the spy, Bosola, is planted in the Duchess' household, the trap is set which leads to exile, torture, madness and death.

McTeer's last major London stage appearance was in 1997 in A Doll's House, which later transferred to Broadway, where she won a Tony Award for her performance. Her screen credits include Tumbleweeds, Velvet Goldmine, Dead Romantic and Waking the Dead.

She's joined in the cast of The Duchess of Malfi by Lorcan Cranitch (as Bosola), Eleanor David (Julia), Charles Edwards (Antonio), James Howard, Will Keen (Ferdinand), Penelope McGhie, Sally Rogers (Cariola) and Jonathan Slinger (Delio).

Director Lloyd's previous productions at the National have included the 1998 revival of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie though, more recently, she's been mainly occupied with launching multiple productions of Mamma Mia!. The Duchess of Malfi is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting by Mark Henderson, music by Gary Yershon and sound design by Simon Baker for Autograph.

Following its London season on the South Bank, the production will visit The Lowry, Salford (18 - 22 March), Malvern Theatres (25 - 29 March), King's Theatre, Edinburgh (1 - 5 April), Theatre Royal, Plymouth (3 - 7 June) and Theatre Royal, Nottingham (10-14 June).

- by Terri Paddock

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