Violent, harrowing and just as relevant today, this plot is 411 years old. Jodie Whittaker, who delighted the nation with her work on Doctor Who and Broadchurch, plays the Duchess in this brilliant 1613 play adapted for the modern day. The duchess is a widow, keen to start a new life. Falling in love with someone from a lower class, she marries him against her family’s wishes. When her brothers find out they’re furious and decide to wreak revenge. This bloody exploration of revenge has been transformed into a captivating contemporary tale with Jodie Whittaker at the helm, a treat of a play that wowed Edinburgh audiences in 2019.
Jodie Whittaker’s amazing role in Venus, during 2006, saw her win a string of nominations including a British Independent Film Award nomination and a Satellite Award nomination. She delighted us in Wired (2008), Attack the Block (2011), Good Vibrations (2012), 2016’s Adult Life Skills, 2017’s Journeyman and Trust Me, also in 2017. Whittaker made TV history as the first woman Doctor Who and is no stranger to the stage. This is her first theatre role for more than a decade, and you can expect something special.
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Audience Latest Reviews
Reviews Summary based on 14 reviews
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What to expect Acting: Music: Costumes: Story: Lighting:
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Incredible theatre experience
The production of The Duchess was one of the most dramatic theatre experiences i have ever had. Without knowing the story, I decided to give musicals a miss and go to a serious play. The acting of Ms Whittaker and her colleagues was second to none. The storyline was intense and the acting matched the moment. Incredlble.
Malcolm, 22 Dec 2024
Jacobean Tradegy
Good acting and set. First half entertaining but goes dark and a bit mad after the interval. Typical of a Jacobean tale, lots of tradegy.
Dawn, 03 Dec 2024
Powerful play ruined
This is a shocking and tough telling of revenge and power against a woman who dares to be her own person.
It was completely ruined by a large group of immature teanagers who were unable to cope with the drama and started to laugh.
Torture sounds that the Dutchess was exposed to were also unnecessarily loud and tortuous for the audience. Music added nothing, but appears to be a current vogue.
Helen, 13 Nov 2024
Shocking, brilliant modern treatment of a Jacobean horror story
All theatre should be this impactful. Remarkable rewriting of the Duchess of Malfi in contemporary mode, hitting all sorts of current issues square on. I scoffed a little at the trigger warnings outside the theatre but this is really not for the faint hearted. Murder, rape, incest, cooercive control, child abuse, torture…. The acting is extraordinary and the pace and energy of the cast is superb. Brilliant play, brilliant reworking.
Victoria, 01 Nov 2024
Not a nice story or subject
The acting was good, but the story was unpleasant and I couldn't really recommend it. I didn't come out thinking that I was pleased to have gone to it.
