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The Lover

By: Marguerite Duras

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The Lover

By: Marguerite Duras

Adapted for the stage and directed by: Fleur Darkin and Jemima Levick

Original translations: 'The Lover' translated by Barbara Bray and 'The North China Lover' translated by Leigh Hafrey

Co-produced by: Stellar Quines, The Royal Lyceum Theatre and Scottish Dance Theatre

An exotic tale of remembered passion

In 1984 the great French novelist Marguerite Duras wrote the story of her own youth in Vietnam, a personal truth told in passionate, vivid fragments. These incandescent glimpses of remembrance became one of the most acclaimed and widely read books of modern French literature.

Now three of Scotland’s major performing arts companies are collaborating in theatre and dance to bring her story to the stage.

"nuanced combination of dance and theatre"

by Thom Dibdin - The Stage

"a delicious concoction that goes beyond words"

by Neil Cooper - The Herald

"Susan Vidler gives an incredible performance as the Woman"

by Joanna Zuchowska - Art Mag

"The Lover is a fearless display of erotica; a gorgeous fusion of uninhibited dance and drama"

by Irene Brown - Edinburgh Guide

Cast

  • Susan Vidler

    The Woman

  • Amy Hollinshead

    The Girl

  • Yosuke Kusano

    The Man

  • Francesco Ferrari

    Pierre

  • Kieran Brown

    Paulo

Creative Team

  • Marguerite Duras

    Writer

  • Jemima Levick

    Adaptor and Director

  • Fleur Darkin

    Adaptor and Director

  • Emma Jones

    Designer

  • David Greig

    Dramaturgy:

  • Leila Kalbassi

    Set Design

  • Torben Lars Sylvest

    Sound Design

  • Alison Brown

    Costume Design

  • Alex Soulsby

    Photography

About The Show

The Lover takes us back to 1929 when a fifteen year old girl crossing the Mekong Delta first catches the attention of an older Chinese man and accepts a ride in his chauffeured limousine. She has no idea how this chance meeting will change her life forever.

50 years on, looking back on their illicit affair which flared and died, she finds the intensity of her first love still burning bright in her memory. It illuminates a past fraught with the confusions of the lovers’ ruthless desire, her own dysfunctional family and the divisive colonial culture which pulled them all apart.

This unique collaboration between Stellar Quines, The Royal Lyceum Theatre and Scottish Dance Theatre brings this exotic tale of remembered passion to new life in an original stage adaption by our own award-winning director Jemima Levick and visionary choreographer Fleur Darkin.

Fusing spoken word, music and evocative dance, this production promises to be an irresistible blast of sensual heat for the dark days of January.

Tour History

Our Partners

Co-produced with: