The fundraiser is set to take place on the 17th November.
Marylebone Theatre Artistic Director Alexander Gifford alongside new Executive Director Hannah Henderson have announced that Mark Rylance – the venue’s Patron – will perform Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis alongside Derek Jacobi on Sunday 17 November at 7.00pm, as part of a fundraiser in aid of the theatre.
This fundraiser will form part of the theatre’s autumn / winter season which is also set to include: The Last Word (5 – 21 September) – a searing multimedia performance based on the last words of women accused of political crimes in Russian courts; What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank (4 October – 23 November) – a serious comedy written by Nathan Englander, directed by Patrick Marber and starring Joshua Malina; culminating with A Sherlock Carol, which returns to Baker street for a third Christmas following two sold-out runs. Singer songwriter Nerina Pallot also brings her first one-woman show, I Digress, to the Marylebone Theatre for two performances only (2 & 9 December). Audiences can also enjoy the exhibition Long Shadows, Bright World, on display until 1 December – a collaboration between Sir Ben Okri and Rosemary Clunie, bringing together the worlds of painting and poetry, image and text.
In addition to this, the theatre has also confirmed that due to demand for tickets the theatre will also be increasing its seating capacity in late September from its current 200 seats up to 266 seats.
Talking about the gala performance, Mark Rylance said: “In the early 1990’s I was a month away from performing Venus and Adonis when the production had to be cancelled. Thirty years later, I am excited to be revisiting my plans to play Shakespeare’s first known published work as part of a gala fundraiser for the Marylebone Theatre. This excellent new venue, of which I am a patron, stages original, wonderful plays, often in verse. I am delighted that my dear friend Derek Jacobi will be joining on stage to support a venue with a unique calling to explore and refresh the great classical tradition.”
The Marylebone Theatre opened in 2022, with a production of Dmitry by Peter Oswald. Since then, it has presented a wide variety of theatre, spoken word, music and events.
Marylebone Theatre Artistic Director Alexander J Gifford commented: “As the Marylebone Theatre approaches its second birthday, I am proud to be announcing a season which combines the urgently political with the eternally poetic. Venus and Adonis is perhaps the most exquisite long poem in the English language. Performed by two of Shakespeare’s greatest modern interpreters, Sir Mark Rylance and Sir Derek Jacobi, it will be the centre-piece of a gala fundraiser, whose goal is to secure the Marylebone’s future as a major, new producing house. Alongside it, we will be presenting two UK premieres, delivered by world-class directors, Maxim Didenko and Patrick Marber. I hope our new season consolidates our reputation as an important, new venue and that more and more people come through our doors to enjoy our unique offering of relevant, potent and artistically excellent work.“
To find out more and to book tickets visit: https://www.marylebonetheatre.com/