 | Complicite / Simon McBurney
The Master and Margarita
by Mikhail Bulgakov
returns to the Barbican from 14 December 2012 For immediate release: Thursday 9 August 2012
Barbican Theatre, Barbican Centre, London, UK
Friday 14 December 2012 – Saturday 19 January 2013
Press night: Tuesday 18 December, 7.15pm
Following its sell-out run earlier this year, The Master and Margarita returns to the Barbican in December to play over Christmas and into the new year from Friday 14 December 2012 to Saturday 19 January 2013. As part of a major European tour Complicite’s The Master and Margarita played the prestigious Cour d’honneur of the Palais des Papes at this year’s Festival d’Avignon, where Simon McBurney / Complicite was the Associate Artist.
Mikhail Bulgakov’s rich, magical realist novel with its intertwining storylines pits the power of evil against the power of compassion. The Devil pays a visit to Stalinist Moscow in the guise of a professor of black magic and wreaks havoc in the city, exposing the hypocrisy, greed and corruption of its citizens. Themes of love, compassion and the quality of mercy are explored in parallel stories that move between the fervently atheistic Moscow of the1930s and Jerusalem at the time of Procurator Pontius Pilate during the last days of Jesus’ life.
Bulgakov worked on The Master and Margarita for twelve years and it was published posthumously in 1967, quickly acquiring cult status. The enigmas at the heart of this poetic maelstrom of a novel remain timeless and prescient, affirming Bulgakov’s place as one of Russia’s greatest 20th-century writers.
The Master and Margarita is directed by Simon McBurney and features an ensemble cast from many of Complicite’s landmark productions, with set design by award-winning Es Devlin who designed the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Director: Simon McBurney
Set Design: Es Devlin
Costume Design: Christina Cunningham
Lighting Design: Paul Anderson
Sound Design: Gareth Fry
Video Design: Finn Ross
Puppetry: Blind Summit Theatre
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Press Information
For further information, images or to arrange interviews contact the Barbican Theatre Press Office:
Bridget Thornborrow, Media Relations Manager – Theatre and Dance, +44 20 7382 7168, bridget.thornborrow@barbican.org.uk
Hélène Muron, Media Relations Officer – Theatre and Dance, +44 20 7382 7399, helene.muron@barbican.org.uk
Public information
Box office: 0845 120 7511
barbican.org.uk/theatre
The Master and Margarita
by Mikhail Bulgakov
Directed by Simon McBurney
Complicite
UK
Performed in English
14 December 2012 – 19 January 2013, Mon-Sat 7.15pm (also 1.30pm matinées on 22 & 29 Dec, 5 Jan); Sun matinée at 4pm on 30 Dec. No performances on 16, 23-26, 31 Dec, 1, 6 & 13 Jan.
Barbican Theatre
Running time: 195 mins / plus interval
£16 – 42
Age guidance: 14+ (contains nudity)
Press night: 18 December 2012, 7.15pm
A Complicite production. Co-produced by Complicite; the Barbican; les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg ; Wiener Festwochen; Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen and Festival d’Avignon in association with Theatre Royal Plymouth.
About Complicite
Founded in 1983, Complicite is an internationally acclaimed theatre company led by Simon McBurney. The company has won over fifty major theatre awards worldwide. Complicite’s recent work at the Barbican includes Shun-kin and A Disappearing Number. Following two sell-out seasons at the Barbican and performances across the world including Mumbai and Hyderabad, Lincoln Center New York and London’s West End, the final performance of A Disappearing Number was broadcast live to cinemas worldwide and was seen by over 30,000 people. For more information visit www.complicite.org.
About the Barbican
A world-class arts and learning organisation, the Barbican pushes the boundaries of all major art forms including dance, film, music, theatre and visual arts. Our creative learning programme further underpins everything we do. In 2012 we celebrate the Olympic year with many of our projects forming part of the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival – it is also our 30th birthday year. Over 1.7 million people pass through our doors annually, hundreds of artists and performers are featured, and more than 300 staff work onsite. Our architecturally renowned centre opened in 1982 and comprises the Barbican Hall, the Barbican Theatre, the Pit, Cinema One (with Cinemas Two and Three opening in Beech Street in autumn 2012), Barbican Art Gallery, a second gallery, The Curve, foyers and public spaces, a library, Lakeside Terrace, a glasshouse conservatory, conference facilities and three restaurants.
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