The Heresy of Love

Illustration by emmanuEl polanco

SWAN THEATRE STRATFORD-UPON-AVON From 2 February – 9 March 2012

THE HERESY OF LOVE A NEW PLAY BY helen edmundson

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IN A CONVENT IN MEXICO ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST WOMEN OF HER GENERATION STRIVES TO RECONCILE HER LOVE FOR GOD WITH HER DESIRE FOR LEARNING AND ACCLAIM. Her gift for writing plays and poetry is celebrated by the Court, but her success creates alarm and jealousy within the Church. Persecuted by a zealous archbishop and betrayed by those closest to her, Sister Juana’s fragile world is threatened by dangerous ambition and illicit desires.

Inspired by the life of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, writer of House of Desires, The Heresy of Love is written by Helen Edmundson, whose other playwrighting credits include Coram Boy for the National Theatre. Nancy Meckler directs following her production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre earlier this year.

Sor Juana will be played by Catherine McCormack, whose recent theatre credits include Top Girls, Nora in A Doll’s House directed by Sir Peter Hall at the Theatre Royal Bath and Six Characters in Search of an Author directed by Rupert Goold.

COMPANY Teresa Banham Geoffrey Beevers Stephen Boxer Raymond Coulthard Dona Croll Marty Cruickshank Laura Darrall Catherine Hamilton Diana Kent Youssef Kerkour Catherine McCormack Ian Midlane Sarah Ovens Daniel Stewart Simon Thorp Director Nancy Meckler Designer Katrina Lindsay Lighting Ben Ormerod Music Ilona Sekacz Sound John Leonard Movement Liz Ranken

The RSC Ensemble is generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION The RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST

0844 800 1110 www.rsc.org.uk/heresy #RSCHERESY