Twenty-five years after it was first published, the best-selling novel, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières will be bought to life on stage.
Directed by Olivier and Tony Award nominee Melly Still and adapted by Evening Standard Award winner and Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominee Rona Munro, the epic love story comes to Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 29 May – 15 June.
Set on the Greek island of Cephalonia, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin follows the lives of Dr Iannis, his beautiful, strong-willed daughter Pelagia and the Italian Captain Antonio Corelli, during the Italian and German occupation of the island in World War II.
Captain Corelli, an enigmatic young Italian officer, is posted to the idyllic Greek island as part of the occupying forces. Shunned by the locals at first, he proves to be civilised, humorous – and a consummate musician. The Captain is soon thrown together with Pelagia, who discovers all of the complexities of love, and how it can blossom in the most unexpected and profound way.
From the vivid descriptions of the village and its inhabitants, to the brutal life and epic sweep of the soldiers caught up in the constantly changing politics of war, this stunning new production includes specially commissioned music by Harry Blake.
Director Melly Still says of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin:
“In Louis de Bernières’ whirlwind story, ideas are dished up by the power-mad and eaten up by the desperate, resulting in war. But when those ideas are disputed in a smaller community, tensions are dispelled by a wink, a meal of chicken, or a dance. And here lies the heart of Rona Munro’s witty and epic adaptation: difference of opinion is oxygen to the island, it keeps people feeling alive. I can’t wait to see it come to life on stage at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.”
For Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Louis de Bernières won the 1995 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize – Overall Winner for Best Book, the 1995 Lannan Literary Award for Fiction and the 1994 Sunday Express Book of the Year. In 2001, the novel was adapted into a film starring Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz.
The theatrical staging of Louis de Bernières’ novel features an ensemble cast of 15 with Alex Mugnaioni playing the title character and Madison Clare, Fred Fergus and Joseph Long playing Pelagia, Francesco and Dr Iannis respectively.
