Preview: Roger McGough’s Misanthrope

The Misanthrope was written by Liverpudlian poet Roger McGough but based on the 17th century play by Molière.

The play is the third in the Molière-McGough trilogy, which started with Tartuffe and continued with The Hypochondriac.

Written in rhyme throughout, with the exception of the leading character, Alceste, The Misanthrope is a farce of French society politics.

The story follows Alceste, a man who is consumed with his love for the beautiful Célimène.

However the course of true love does not run smoothly and events soon start to spiral out of control.

Performance company English Touring Theatre is one of the largest and most successful touring companies in England.

Director Gemma Bodinetz leads the creative team. As artistic director of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatre her credits include the Kindness of Strangers, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Macbeth.

Roger McGough is one of the country’s most celebrated poets, whose services to literature were recognised in 2004 when he was awarded a CBE.

English Touring Theatre will perform The Misanthrope from Tuesday, March 26 to Saturday, March 30.

Shows will be at 7.45pm each evening with additional 2.30pm matinees on the Thursday and Saturday.

Tickets cost from £15 to £27 plus a £2.50 booking fee. To book call the box office on 01223 503333.

One to book ahead is Joe Broughton and the Birmingham Conservatoire Folk Ensemble.

The group will perform in Sutton Village Hall on Saturday, June 1. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £8 for children. To buy tickets visit www.suttonvillagehall.org.uk