Oregon Shakespeare Festival Presents Coriolanus

After 12 years, OSF brings William Shakespeare's timeless play Coriolanus back to the stage. Rather than on the Elizabethan Stage as performed in 1996, this production will run in the intimate New Theatre under the direction of Laird Williamson (On the Razzle, Cyrano de Bergerac, Pericles) with a cast of 16 actors.

Set in Republican Rome, Coriolanus is about a man bred for glory on the battlefield. Caius Martius returns triumphant from battle at Corioles and is honored with a new name, Coriolanus. He is then persuaded to seek the high political office of Consul, a position he doesn't want and is unprepared to fill, but one that his ambitious mother, Volumnia, is determined he will occupy. As the nation slides perilously close to class warfare, Coriolanus must wage peace with the plebeians, who are angry about continued wars, erosion of their rights, and economic inequality. But Coriolanus's training, arrogance and elitism will not allow him to seek and win their support--with tragic results.

Williamson, noting the significant parallels to our society--a nation at war and on the brink of an election--hopes the play will generate discussion. "I find what is important for me in this play is to look at democracy and the potential of democracy--and what I finally have come to say in regards to this play is that democracy is a messy business. I don't think weve made it work for everybody, yet. It is this kind of controversy or discussion that I hope that this production will generate."

The resident design team includes scenic designer Richard L. Hay; costume designer Deborah M. Dryden, lighting designer Robert Peterson and composer Todd Barton. Dramaturg on the project is Alan Armstrong; voice and text director is David Carey; and assistant director is Michole Biancosino, the recipient of the John Gielgud Fellowship.