Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Les Liaisons Dangereuses description

To the super-rich of the time, patriarchy meant power. Les Liaisons Dangereuses is set in France before the French Revolution, at a time when the rich lived or died on their reputation. If you were a woman, the social landscape was lethal. Get it wrong and you're out on the street. But Marquise de Merteuil is a survivor, a woman who manages to control her world despite everything. Collaborating with Vicomte de Valmont, they set out to turn seduction into a strategy and weaponise lust. But a relationship like theirs can only end in disaster. Based on the novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, the story is told through letters between the characters. No wonder it shocked audiences at the time.

Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) directs Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, numerous TV series) and Aidan Turner (Rivals, Poldark). Monica Barbaro plays Madame de Tourvel and Gabrielle Drake plays Madame de Rosemonde, with Sharif Afifi as Azolan. Nandi Bhebhe is Julie, Ali Goldsmith is Major Domo, Darragh Hand is Chevalier Danceny, Cat Simmons plays Madame de Volanges and Hannah van der Westhuysen is Cécile Volanges. The set designer is Rosanna Vize, costume designer is Natalie Roar, and the choreographer is Tom Jackson Greaves. The composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman, lighting designer James Farncombe, sound designer Ian Dickson for Autograph and intimacy director Ingrid Mackinnon join fight director Sam Lyon-Behan, casting directors Alastair Coomer and Naomi Downham, dialect coach Hazel Holder and voice coach Cathleen McCarron. A brilliant exploration of a shocking moment in history.

Playing at Lyttelton - National Theatre (venue info)