CRITIC TURNS PLAYWRIGHT AND EXCELS

The first full-length work by Nicholas de Jongh, theatre critic for the Evening Standard, Plague Over England has been met with great acclaim and rave reviews. Looking at the establishment's persecution of gay men in the 1950s, the play is based on an actual incident that occurred in actor John Gielgud's life, when he was arrested in a public lavatory for winking at an undercover policeman. A high-profile court case ensued, which is captured in de Jongh's well-crafted and moving play.

Plague Over England portrays a man in crisis and simultaneously offers a powerful evocation of an era and stark insights into how homophobia has been viewed and experiences over the last fifty years.

Directed by Tamara Harvey and with sharp designed by Alex Marker, Plague Over England stars Michael Feast in the leading role. Having known Gielgud personally, Feast imbues the character with the actor's traits, mannerisms and his fearful, lustful, self-deprecating nature.