Imperium - Softcover

Harris, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1848426984 ISBN 13: 9781848426986

Publisher: Nick Hern Books, 2018

Synopsis

Following his stunning RSC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies (2013/14), Mike Poulton turns his pen to the thrilling world of Ancient Rome with a brand new version of Robert Harris' best-selling Cicero novels. This epic event will be staged as six plays, presented in two performances, each with two intervals, and will be directed by RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran.

Cicero, the greatest orator of his age, devoted all his energy and cunning to preserve the rule of law, and defend Rome's Republic against the predatory attacks of political rivals, discontented aristocrats, and would-be military dictators.

About this title

About the Author:

Robert Harris is a bestselling author whose novels include: The Cicero Trilogy (Imperium, Lustrumand Dictator), Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel, Pompeii, The Ghost, The Fear Index, An Officer and a Spy, which won four prizes including the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, and Conclave. Several of his books have been filmed, including The Ghost, which was directed by Roman Polanski. His work has been translated into thirty-seven languages and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Mike Poulton is an award-winning dramatist whose many adaptations and translations for the stage include: Robert Harris's Imperium (Royal Shakespeare Company); The York Mystery Plays (directed by Philip Breen at York Minster); Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies (directed by Jeremy Herrin for the Royal Shakespeare Company); Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities (directed by James Dacre at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton); Fortune’s Fool (directed by Lucy Bailey at the Old Vic, London); Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya (directed by Lucy Bailey at The Print Room, London); Schiller’s Luise Miller (directed by Michael Grandage for the Donmar Warehouse, London); Anjin: The English Samurai (directed by Gregory Doran for Horipro in Tokyo); Malory’s Morte d’Arthur(directed by Gregory Doran for the Royal Shakespeare Company); Schiller’s Wallenstein (directed by Angus Jackson at Chichester Festival Theatre); Schiller’s Mary Stuart (directed by Terry Hands at Clwyd Theatr Cymru); Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea (directed by Lucy Bailey at Birmingham Repertory Theatre); Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (directed by Philip Franks at Chichester Festival Theatre, and Terry Hands at Clwyd Theatr Cymru); Ibsen’s Rosmersholm (directed by Anthony Page at the Almeida Theatre, London); Strindb

Review:

"One of the finest achievements of the Royal Shakespeare Company in recent years... an exhilarating and timely political drama... provides both an intriguing character study and a demonstration of politics in action." —Guardian

(2018-10-19)

"The sheer scale of the enterprise inspires awe... Poulton distils the original trilogy with his customary combination of verbal dexterity, clear storytelling and hefty doses of leavening wit, [which] only serves to accentuate the brilliance of the undertaking... puts these dense historical epics onto the stage with all the panache and pace of a Netflix box set." —Whatsonstage.com

(2018-10-19)

"The West Wing in blood-soaked togas... this turbulent story of bitter rivalries and criminal conspiracy is both timely and entertaining... an instructive and entertaining vision of one of history’s great self-made heavyweights." —Evening Standard

(2018-10-19)

"Ambitious, intricate and compelling... an epic undertaking... Poulton’s adaptation expertly condenses and makes clear all the complex machinations and power plays, the conspiracies, shifting loyalties and betrayals. In his hands the intricate, multi-stranded narrative moves fluidly and is never less than engaging." —The Stage

(2018-10-19)

About this edition

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1848426984
• ISBN 13: 9781848426986
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224