Thu 21 Jun 2007

Simon Russell Beale to star in Oedipus Rex at Edinburgh International Festival 2007

Critically acclaimed and hugely versatile actor, Simon Russell Beale will join a cast of world leading musicians to perform Stravinsky’s opera Oedipus Rex at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.

Beale – fresh from his triumphant roles as Galileo and Face in David Hare’s Autumn 2006 adaptations of Life of Galileo and The Alchemist at the National Theatre, and currently reprising his Broadway role of King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot in London - will be the Narrator in a concert performance of one of Stravinsky’s most popular operas taking place on Thursday 23 August at 8pm in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.

He joins a stellar line up that includes Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, singing the role of Oedipus and Natascha Petrinsky as Jocaste, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ilan Volkov and the massed voices of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus.

Oedipus Rex was composed in collaboration with Jean Cocteau. Mixing spoken texts by the narrator in English with striking musical passages sung in Latin it is regarded as one of the most original works of the twentieth century.

It forms the second half of a one off performance which opens with Stravinsky’s evocative ballet Orpheus. The evening is part of the Edinburgh International Festival’s celebration of the 400th anniversary of Monterverdi’s L’Orfeo.

In a strand entitled Orpheus – the journey, sponsored by Lloyds TSB Scotland, the Festival programme explores myths in art through the last 400 years and considers the relationship between words and music, through music, dance, opera and theatre performances.

Highlights include the European premiere of American Repertory Theatre’s modern take on the Orpheus Myth, Orpheus X; a traditional production of Montervedi’s L’Orfeo, conducted by Jordi Savall, that sets out to recreate the aspects of its first performance 1407; and legendary New York choreographer Trisha Brown’s Canto/Pianto, a critically acclaimed integration of music, text and movement inspired by Monteverdi’s masterpiece.

Simon Russell Beale made his professional debut at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. He is a National Theatre Associate. His theatre credits include Vanya in Uncle Vanya (for which he won the 2003 Olivier Award for Best Actor) and Malvolio in Twelfth Night both at the Donmar and directed by Sam Mendes. His many appearances at the RSC include title roles in Edward II and Richard III and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. At the National Theatre his roles have included Mosca in Volpone opposite Michael Gambon and playing the title role in Hamlet for which he received the Critic’s Circle Best Shakespearean Performance Award. His TV credits include A Dance to the Music of Time, for which he won 1997 BAFTA Best Actor Award and 1997 Royal Television Society Programme Award for Best Actor. In late 2007 he will play Benedict in Much Ado about Nothing directed by Nicholas Hytner.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Hub Tickets: + 44 (0)131 473 2000

Online booking and information

Orpheus

by Igor Stavinsky

Oedipus Rex

By Igor Stravinsky

Thursday 23 August 8pm

Usher Hall

Tickets from £8

Running time approx 1 hours 45 minutes

Supported by The Stevenson Charitable Trust

Orpheus – the journey is sponsored by Lloyds TSB Scotland.

For further information please contact Brian Maycock or Susie Burnet in the EIF press office on 0131 473 2020 or brian.maycock@eif.co.uk / press@eif.co.uk

The Edinburgh International Festival is supported by The City of Edinburgh Council, the Scottish Arts Council, and the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council.