This production began performances on 5th December 2017 and closed on 25th March 2018.
★★★★★
Mark Rylance leads a pitch-perfect production
The Independent
King Philippe V of Spain (Mark Rylance), plagued by insomnia, lies awake in his chamber. The Queen, desperate for a cure, hears of Farinelli - a castrato with a voice so divine it has the power to captivate all who hear it. Philippe is astonished when Farinelli sings, and begs him to stay. But will Farinelli, one of the greatest celebrities of his time, choose a life of solitude over fame and fortune in the opera houses of Europe?
★★★★★
John Dove’s spellbinding, superbly staged production
Mail on Sunday
In its five-star review, The Independent hailed FARINELLI AND THE KING as a “profoundly funny and haunting meditation on the power of music in a pitch-perfect production by John Dove. Mark Rylance’s Phillipe is like the love child of Stan Laurel and Hamlet.”
FARINELLI AND THE KING originally premiered to rave reviews and played a sold-out run at Shakespeare’s Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in February 2015. The production later played a sold-out engagement in the West End in Fall 2015, where it was the highest-grossing show in the history of the Duke of York’s Theatre, and received six Olivier Award nominations.
FARINELLI AND THE KING returns Mark Rylance to the Belasco, where he triumphed with the double bill staging of Twelfth Night and Richard III in the 2013-2014 season. Mark Rylance won his third Tony Award for his performance as Olivia in Twelfth Night and was also Tony-nominated for his performance in the title role of Richard III. FARINELLI AND THE KING is Mark Rylance’s first return to Broadway since he won the 2016 Academy Award for his performance in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies.
★★★★★
An evening that no theatre or music lover can afford to miss
Sunday Express
CAST
MARK RYLANCE
SAM CRANE
HUSS GARBIYA
COLIN HURLEY
EDWARD PEEL
IESTYN DAVIES – Singing voice of Farinelli
CREATIVES
CLAIRE VAN KAMPEN – Playwright
JOHN DOVE – Director
JONATHAN FENSOM – Set and Costume Designer
CLAIRE CAN KEMPEN – Musical Arrangements