27 August 2015, The Tablet

All the tyrant’s women


 
Under Josie Rourke’s enterprising artistic directorship the Donmar Warehouse theatre has alternated new works with revivals but the latest production paradoxically manages to be both. Although premiered at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh 15 years ago, Abi Morgan’s Splendour was little seen or discussed then, and so its second staging has the impact of a new commission.Two strong reasons for taking another look are the rise in Morgan’s profile as a writer – through screenplays such as The Iron Lady and stage plays including Lovesong – and the fact that, at a time of efforts towards equality in theatre, Splendour is not only written by a woman but has an all-female cast.Each character has a personal or professional relationship with the dictator of a country
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