Home / Arts and Entertainment / Rylance Stars in London's "Remixed" Moliere Play
Rylance Stars in London's "Remixed" Moliere Play
29 Sep
Summary
- Sir Mark Rylance stars in a London-based Moliere adaptation.
- The play features an all-black cast with Rylance as the sole white actor.
- It marks the launch of Intermission Ensemble for young actors.
Sir Mark Rylance, an Academy Award winner, is currently leading a "remixed" adaptation of Moliere's 17th-century play "Tartuffe" at London's Marylebone Theatre. Titled "Tartuffe Remixed," the production is set in contemporary London, centering on an African family on the verge of marrying into a Jamaican family. Writer and director Darren Raymond, with whom Rylance has a long collaborative history, helms the project.
Rylance portrays Pastor Terrence Blake, a conman disguised as an Anglican priest, who serves as the play's catalyst. He is the only white actor in a predominantly black cast, an experience Rylance describes as a significant cultural convergence. The production draws parallels between the play's themes and the historical legacy of slavery.
This engagement also signifies the debut of the Intermission Ensemble, a new initiative founded by Raymond's Intermission Youth Theatre. The ensemble aims to provide a professional acting launchpad for classically trained graduates from the youth program. Rylance, a longtime supporter of Intermission Youth, sees this as a pivotal moment for emerging talent.
Rylance and Raymond, who have been friends and collaborators for over two decades through Intermission Youth, aim to transfer "Tartuffe Remixed" to the West End. They also plan to develop more professional plays through the Intermission Ensemble, signifying a new phase in their artistic partnership and commitment to nurturing young actors.
