Theatre of Blood

by Lee Simpson, Phelim McDermott

Seven self-regarding critics assemble at a disused theatre in response to a mysterious invitation. Too late they discover its gruesome purpose as Edward Lionheart, an actor frenzied by a lifetime of sneering reviews, hacks his revengeful way through the bloody works of Shakespeare, assisted by a gang of murderous tramps.
The laws of theatre supersede the laws of physics in this macabre exhibition of putty noses, Kensington gore and some very large acting indeed.

Theatre of Blood was produced by Improbable Theatre in collaboration with the National Theatre, starring Jim Broadbent, in May 2005.

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Various authors

Reviews

[Yourfiendmrjones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just. Great. It would be a bear to stage, but I’d love to be a part of that process. Anything that manages to capture both the camp fun of the film it is based on and the Jacobean/Grand Guignol bloody horror of some of Shakespeare’s greatest murder scenes while making you feel more than a mere exercise in genre storytelling...


... can’t be all bad, can it?😉

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this was super fun! I would love to see it on stage.

[Zackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to the film, but it departs in some fun little ways.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an adaptation of the Vincent Price movie.

[Jef · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed this, but found it to be lacking in several areas, as are many plays adapted from another source. while i'm sure the original production was quite an experience, this would be difficult to produce and cast, and like much that is based on 'old school' acting, is probably easier to appreciate by viewing onstage than by reading. read and enjoy - it's good, but the 1973 film, in all its campiness and over-the-top theatricality, is better.