The Bard's ‘Lucrece’ coming to Mumbai

This lesser known work of Shakespeare, written in 1594, will be dramatised version of the Bard's poem The Rape of Lucrece. This narrative poem by William Shakespeare speaks about the legendary Lucretia. Beginning with a prose dedication addressed directly to the Earl of Southampton, which begins, “The love I dedicate to your Lordship is without end.” It refers to the poem as a pamphlet, which describes the form of its original publication of 1594.

The dedication is followed by “The Argument”, a prose paragraph that summarizes the events preceding the start of the poem, which begins in media res.

1,855 lines long the poem is divided into 265 stanzas of seven lines each, all of which are in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme for each stanza is ABABBCC. Also known as 'rhyme royal,' it has been used by other literary greats like Geoffrey Chaucer, John Milton and John Masefield.

The narrative deals with the tragic rape and death of the lead character and the revenge that follows. Extraordinary in its beauty and scope, it is also a very political play at the centre of current issues around assault and patriarchy given the rising outrage over the attacks women have suffered silently down the years.

The theatrical production will be directed by Paul Goodwin, a renowned Shakespearean expert, with 30 years of experience as a professional actor at the highest level, including Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. Goodwin is the artistic director of The Shakespeare Edit a classical theatre company committed to bringing vivid productions of Shakespeare to the international stage. He teaches and directs Shakespeare for both professional actors and students in the UK and internationally. From 2008-2017 he was the Course Director of MA Acting at Drama Centre London, one of the foremost postgraduate training courses in the UK. He spent 30 years as a professional actor, working at the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre and Cheek by Jowl, as well as other companies nationally and internationally.

The play will boast an international star-cast from Britain and India. These include Indian names like Meher Mistry and Adarsh Gaurav along with British actors Lucy Briggs-Owen and Portia van de Braam.

An ardent fan of Shakespeare himself, Mr. Khushroo N Suntook, Chairman, NCPA said, “We at the NCPA strongly believe in the value and role of the arts as a vehicle for cross cultural understanding, exchange and relations. By co-producing Lucrece, we emphasise that violence against women is unacceptable. Through the arts and productions such as this we aim to raise awareness, and to promote debate on important social issues.”

About the NCPA:

Opening its doors to the world in 1969, NCPA was the first multi-venue and multi-purpose cultural centre in South Asia. It is committed to preserving and promoting India's rich and vibrant artistic heritage in music, dance, theatre, film, literature and photography, as well as presenting new and innovative work by Indian and international artists from a diverse range of genres including drama, contemporary dance, orchestral concerts, opera, jazz and chamber music. Today, the NCPA hosts more than 700 events each year, making it India’s largest and most holistic performing arts centre.
As India’s role on the international stage expands, the NCPA has been investing in the country’s cultural future. It regularly presents performances and workshops by leading artists from around the country. As the national performing arts centre, it also has an eye towards the international arts and presents several international groups, and has collaborated with arts organizations and theatres around the globe including the Southbank Centre, Carnegie Hall, National Theatre (London), the Edinburgh Festival, and the Metropolitan Opera (New York).