edward the second by christopher marlowe

NOTCHES: In a few sentences, what is your book about? Through close readings of poetry and drama, alongside chronicle accounts and political pamphlets, it demonstrates that Edward’s medieval and early modern afterlife was significantly shaped by the influence of literary texts and techniques. The Reputation of Edward II, 1305-1697: A Literary Transformation of History provides the first full account of how this reputation developed, providing new insights into the processes and priorities that shaped narratives of sexual transgression in medieval and early modern England. I emphasised all this by ageing through make-up and false beard.During his lifetime and the four centuries following his death, King Edward II (1307-1327) acquired a reputation for having engaged in sexual and romantic relationships with his male favourites, and having been murdered by penetration with a red-hot spit. By the climax of the play he is a full-blown tyrant. His passions are thwarted by his advisers, on whom he turns his anger and growing strength. The arc of Edward's progression is as simple and strong as Marlowe's language. 'Ah no - that would be in the 1920s when I was touring Shakespeare across the USA with Ben Greet.' She said that they had played just one afternoon performance in Hollywood, then a settlement so small, that they moved on to play elsewhere the same evening. Dame Sybil Thorndyke attended a matinee and I asked her had she seen Granville Barker as Edward. 'no problem' and the fuss guaranteed full houses for the run and the subsequent tour in which Marlowe played in repertoire with Shakespeare. The local watch committee sent along a couple of policeman who reported At the Edinburgh Festival, the late Councillor John Kidd took offence to this show of male affection, particularly as it took place on a stage erected within the Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland. Laurenson's lips, which was a bonus throughout the run.

I still recall the first softness of James The auditions for Gaveston, Edward's lover, were conducted at Hampstead TheatreĬlub in London, where actors were asked to kiss me. We showed all, as it were, with the aid of a glowing torchlight and dim lighting. In 1969 it was still considered an outrageous play, after all, perhaps, the first drama ever written with a homosexual hero.Įdward's death with a red-hot poker thrust into his bowels had been discretely mimed behind a curtain when Harley Granville Barker played the eponymous role.

I may even have suggested myself to play both kings. I recall he asked Alan Bates, who was busy elsewhere. When Toby Robertson, artistic director of Prospect Theatre, decided to revive our Richard II, he thought to accompany it with his own production of Edward II, a play he had previously directed with Derek Jacobi and other Cambridge undergraduates in 1957.

Edward the second by christopher marlowe