ETT and Liverpool Playhouse Tour McGough’s Misanthrope

English Touring Theatre and Liverpool Playhouse bring Roger McGough’s adaptation of The Misanthrope – opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in spring 2013 before a national tour

Following their collaboration on Tartuffe and The Hypochondriac, English Touring Theatre and Liverpool Playhouse will complete a trilogy of Roger McGough adaptations of classic Molière comedies. The ‘McGoughière’ team will reunite McGough with Everyman and Playhouse Artistic Director Gemma Bodinetz, who will direct this co-production with ETT.

Roger McGough dips his quill into what many consider to be Molière’s best work in this mockery of manners and morals set amid 17th century French aristocracy.  Poet Alceste is disgusted with French society. Powdered fops gossip in code and be-jewelled coquettes whisper behind fans wherever he looks.  In pursuit of honesty, he embarks on a one-man crusade against forked-tongues, frippery and fakery.  But could the woman he has fallen in love with be the worst culprit of all?  As Alceste dreams of a pas de deux, are the only deux of Célimène her faces?  And in this rarefied world will his revolution prove just revolting?

Rachel Tackley, Director of English Touring Theatre, said: “After two hugely successful productions with Roger and Gemma, we’re delighted to be reuniting with our friends at Liverpool and bringing this work to ETT audiences both old and new. Our audiences have been eagerly anticipating another McGoughiere and we’re thrilled to be creating one for them. After a brilliant few days working on the play in the ETT rehearsal space earlier this year it is sure not to disappoint”!

The Misanthrope is at the Liverpool Playhouse from 15 February – 9 March, 2013