Tristan and Yseult

The critically acclaimed hit play returns!

Carl Grose and Anna Maria Murphy of Kneehigh Theatre return with a new revival of their hit play of love and betrayal, when it comes to the Globe as part of the 2017 Summer Of Love season. First staged in 2005, it was adapted by the Globe's Emma Rice, who will be stepping down at the end of the year as artistic director. After a successful UK tour and a stint travelling across the USA during the 2014/15 season, it finally comes home to London. Combining uproarious comedy, live music, grand passion and bitter truths, rediscover the wild romance of feudal Cornwall.

Inspired by Wagner's epic opera "Tristan Und Isolde", Rice's vision for the play realises the composer's dream of integrating different styles of artwork, using music, humor and modern settings in the gradual build-up to catastrophe at its conclusion. A recording of the opera is put on a turntable at the start of the show, with the onstage band playing new compositions under the baton of Stu Barker.

King Mark of Cornwall has plenty to be worried about, his enemy Morholt of Ireland is threatening invasion and a charistmatic stranger, Tristan has turned up at court. Together they take on the fight and on winning, form a strong bond. But when Mark asks Tristan to go to Ireland and get the beautiful Yseult to be his bride, Tristan quickly falls in love with the enigmatic princess. On their return to Cornwall their affair, aided by a nefarious love potion, carries on, causing chaos in the lives and the hearts of the three, with effects that will change all of them forever...

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