King Edward II
Christopher Marlowe’s tragedy performed on the Perner Insel, Hallein
Young Edward II had hardly been crowned king of England before he re-instated Pierce Gaveston, the friend of his youth. His father had excommunicated Gaveston because he felt he had a harmful influence on the successor to the throne. Gaveston is handsome, knows how to enjoy life, he is not patriotic and no friend of the military. Desire is more important for him than duty. He is a gambler and Edward falls under his spell. Obsessed with feelings of love for his favourite on whom he defiantly heaps offices, Edward is oblivious of government business. He readily sacrifices his royal dignity for ridicule. Civil war seems imminent. The nobility, the clergy and the military – headed by the reflective tactician Mortimer – openly oppose the king in order to prevent the decline of the country and to bring Edward’s incontrollable despotism to an end. Edward is forced to separate from his beloved friend yet again.
The young Queen Isabella, who no longer sees a place for herself in this world since the return of Gaveston, tries to regain her husband’s favour by adopting a protective stance towards his lover. For once she succeeds. Nevertheless the conflict intensifies and results in war. Edward and Gaveston are surprised to be the subject of attack and flee. Gaveston is caught and murdered.
Edward then tries to regain all due power and begins to rage in bestial manner against his adversaries. During his campaign of revenge the leaders of all those opposed to him are killed. All except one: Mortimer. He is captured and imprisoned in the Tower. He manages to escape and take refuge in France where the humiliated Isabella and her son, who later becomes Edward III, are already waiting for him.
An army is formed of noble lords and they charge victorious against the king of England. Regicide is out of the question and so Edward is forced to renounce his rule although nominally he has to continue. In reality Queen Isabella and Mortimer, who has become her lover, now govern the country.
Edward, once blinded and arrogant, now increasingly becomes a silent, suffering figure whereas the new rulers reveal themselves to be tyrannical despots. Although regicide is sacrilege, they secretly begin to consider it because while ever Edward II is still on the throne, he remains a threat. Initially the murderers hope to be able to leave him to die in a cesspool. When this fails, they impale him through the anus, symbolising his former offences.
Yet this murder brings another avenger onto the scene. Edward’s son seizes power, kills Mortimer and disowns his mother. The wheel continues to turn.
Judith Gerstenberg
Christopher Marlowe
Edward II
New production (performed in German)
Stage director Sebastian Nübling
Stage and costume design Muriel Gerstner
Lighting design Gérard Cleven
Music Lars Wittershagen
Dramaturge Judith Gerstenberg
Academic consultant Elisabeth Bronfen
Premiere 31 July 2004, 7.30 p.m.
Further performances
1 August, 7.30 p.m.
2 August, 7.30 p.m.
4 August, 7.30 p.m.
6 August, 7.30 p.m.
7 August, 7.30 p.m.
8 August, 7.30 p.m.
10 August, 7.30 p.m.
12 August, 7.30 p.m.
13 August, 7.30 p.m.
Perner-Insel, Hallein
Telephone +43 (0) 662 8045-500
Telefax +43 (0) 662 8045-555
info@salzburgfestival.at
Titel and Salzburg-Impressions © Thomas Klinger, Munich