The Duchess of Malfi

Recorded live at the Greenwich Theatre London The Duchess of Malfi is a popular choice as a set text despite or perhaps because of the violence and horror of its later scenes Generally considered to be the masterpiece of Jacobean playwright John Webster it was first produced in around 1613 Its a macabre tragedy based on actual events and tends to be loved or hated by critics while consistently captivating audiences across the centuries Set in Italy in the early fifteenth century it starts out as a love story with the Duchess marrying beneath her class However her two brothers one cool and corrupt the other violent and warped have other ideas With incredible plot twists along the way the play ends as an utter tragedy as the brothers take revenge on her destroying themselves in the process