Titus Andronicus @ Shakespeare's Globe

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by Bryony Harrison (subscribe)

Freelance writer and poet from London; if you would like to read my poetry, please check out my book, 'Poems on the Page', available from goo.gl/Ta4oAX.

Event: 24/04/2014 - 13/07/2014

Revenge is Rarely Sweet

Image from www.shakespearesglobe.com

Believed to be William Shakespeare's first tragedy, Titus Andronicus was written between 1588 and 1593. Set during the late period of the Roman Empire, you can't really get much more bloody or brutal (not even with Macbeth). It was Shakespeare's attempt to join the rest of his contemporaries, who were writing popular revenge plays. Seeing as how many tragedies followed, he must have thought it as a great success. At the time it most certainly was, but the play fell out of favour in the Victorian era because they thought the graphic violence was distasteful.

Leaping forward to the twenty-first century, Titus Andronicus has regained its respect, and is currently being performed at Shakespeare' Globe until the 13th July. Tickets range from £5 standing (be like an authentic Roman peasant) to £15-£42 seated.

The plot centres around General Titus, who after defeating the Goths, returns home with Queen Tamora and her three sons as prisoners of war. Killing one of her sons as a sacrifice does not go down well, and initiates a series of revenge assaults.

You can get even closer to the gore on the 4th July with a chance to meet the cast. Also on selected dates, you can attend a pre-show introduction or post-show Q&A.