Stage: Classic DH Lawrence

Lady Chatterley’s Lover

Few books in the whole of history caused as much uproar and outrage as Lady Chatterley’s Lover. First published privately in 1928 in Italy, and in 1929 in France and Australia, the uncut edition was not openly published in the UK until 1960, when it was the subject of an obscenity trial against Penguin Books. Penguin won, and soon had sold 3 million copies. The book was originally not only infamous for the explicit sexual content but for the story of a relationship between a working class man and an upper class woman, a situation utterly unacceptable in the 1920s.

D. H. Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, and painter. As well as Lady Chatterley’s Lover, his major works include Sons and Lovers, Women in Love and The Rainbow and his works have been on school and university reading lists ever since.

Sheffield Theatres and English Touring Theatre are now presenting a world premiere production of D.H. Lawrence’s classic novel.

Lady Constance Chatterley is trapped in a loveless marriage. Feeling emotionally and physically neglected by her husband Clifford, who was paralysed in the Great War, she flees to the arms of their handsome Gamekeeper Mellors. As their passionate affair escalates, Constance begins to realise that she can no longer live in a world of the mind alone.

Inspired by the setting of his Nottinghamshire childhood, Lawrence’s tender story shows how three people, reeling from the aftermath of the Great War, struggle to survive in a world blown apart.

Phillip Breen adapts and directs this story of the passion, class, love and sexual freedom that are at the heart of this new adaptation of a truly modern classic. The cast includes Hedydd Dylan as Lady Chatterley and Jonah Russell as Mellors and the company is completed by Aretha Ayeh, Will Irvine, Ciaran McIntyre, Eugene O’Hare, David Osmond, Rachel Sanders and Alice Selwyn.

English Touring Theatre is one of the UK’s most successful and exciting production companies, widely regarded as England’s national theatre of touring. Its new Artistic Director Richard Twyman takes over from Rachel Tackley this autumn. The company works with leading artists to stage an eclectic mix of new and classic work for audiences throughout the UK and overseas; theatre that is thrilling, popular and, above all, entertaining. Its co-production with Orange Tree Theatre, an acclaimed revival of Terence Rattigan’s French Without Tears, tours the UK this autumn.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover , Theatre Royal Brighton
15 – 19 Nov
www.atgtickets.com/brighton
0844 871 7650 (bkg fees apply)