The show continues Edward's previous work, from his era-defining piece Saved through to the more recent There Will Be More, in caustically analysing the world we live in.
"This is the first premiere of a full-length work by him in nearly 25 years, and is bound to be one of the biggest theatre events of the year," said a spokesperson.
“To be sane or not to be sane, that is the question – and if not, then be mad and all that follows.”
In his new play Edward Bond takes from the Greek and Jacobean drama the fundamental classical problems of the family and war, to vividly picture our collapsing society.
Dea will star Helen Bang as the titular Dea, playing alongside Edward Avison-Scott as Johnson, Jolyon Price as
Oliver, Christopher Birks as John, David Clayton as Cliff, Holly Joyce as Louise / Woman Prisoner, James Beedham as Whistler, Glenn Hanning as Sargeant, Alexander Huetson as Boyfriend / Brons, Sam Kacher as Smith, Ben Gilbert as Litvov, Alex Ranahan as Potter, Joshua Pascoe as Abott and Abe Buckoke as Clore.
The war is raging, Dea, a heroine, has committed a terrible act and has been exiled. When she meets
someone from her past she is forcefully confronted by the broken society that drove her to commit
her crimes.
Edward Bond on his new play: “In the coming days we will be tested as never before. Our weapons
are now so powerful we cannot win wars as we did in the past. The defeated will simply recover and
press the button. The boundaries between countries and people are broken. We must learn to live
together or it is certain we will die together. Like great societies of the past we have outgrown our
situation in the world. We will be tested everyday, and it may come to seem every moment. The
media are heard everywhere but their hubbub drowns the truth. Can drama show us our situation
and what strengths we have to survive in it? If it can’t, nothing can. We will be tested.”
Details
For full details of this production and all of the other events at Sutton theatres go to THEATRES