Cause Celebre Tickets

When Terence Rattigan sat down to pen “Cause Célèbre” in the 1970s, he would be gearing up to present what would be his final piece of work before his death in 1977. As a result, it was the final chapter in a career that also saw him produce the likes of “In Praise of Love”, “Separate Tables”, “The Browning Version”, “After the Dance”, “French without Tears”, amongst others, and the world would lose someone who produced some of the most important pieces of work of the 20th century. So now, in 2011, the Old Vic theatre celebrates the 100th anniversary of his birth with the staging of this final production.

With “Cause Célèbre” Rattigan chose to dramatise the resulting trial from a murder in the 1930s, which saw a woman receive enormous condemnation, not just for the act of killing but also for the relationship she had with an 18-year-old chauffeur. It was an event that was shaped by the attitudes of the time, with the make-up of the UK much different to those of today, where moral and class values were a dominant force.

So to bring this to stage in 2011, the Old Vic has employed the talents of Thea Sharrock, who will undoubtedly bring years of experience to the job and ensure that “Cause Célèbre” is compelling production in the modern day.

The man murdered in the 1930s took the form of Frances Rattenbury and by the time the trial came to fruition it was Alma Rattenbury, his wife, and her lover George Stoner who sat in the dock accused of his murder. In “Cause Célèbre” we observe as their future must be decided by the jury forewoman Edith in a case that shocked the country and led to some unexpected consequences once a decision was reached.

Sharrock has had a busy year in 2010 and it also saw her direct another of Rattigan’s acclaimed plays, with “After the Dance” setting up shop on the Lyttelton stage on the National Theatre. The director has enjoyed quite a career that has seen her direct some high profile stars, including Keira Knightley in “The Misanthrope” and Daniel Radcliffe in “Equus”, amongst highly acclaimed productions.

Cause Célèbre will begin its run at the Old Vic Theatre on Tuesday 29th March 2011 (with previews from Thursday 17th March 2011) and will continue until Saturday 11th June 2011.