What’s On: Tartuffe (Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble)

Tartuffe

12 – 28 July 2024

PIP Theatre, Milton

“You see him as a saint. I’m way less awed; In fact, I see right through him. He’s a fraud!”

First performed and then speedily banned in 1664, Molière’s Tartuffe is a satirical exploration of greed, seduction, piety, and deception. This July, the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble (QSE) will bring it to life on the PIP Theatre stage in Milton.

Orgon is a man who has it all: wealth, influence, happy children, and a doting wife. But when he falls under the spell of Tartuffe, the charismatic spiritual guide (or hypocritical fraud, depending on who you ask), he begins to lose his grasp on it all. Can his family save him, or will he be completely tartuffified?

Directed by Rebecca Murphy, this Tartuffe is a snappy adaptation full of contemporary language, playful rhyme, and delightful verse. The production features a cast of some of Brisbane’s most exciting classical actors, including QSE Artistic Director Rob Pensalfini as the titular Tartuffe, Core Ensemble member Angus Thorburn as the ridiculous yet sympathetic Orgon, Rebekah Schmidt as the wisecracking maid Dorine, and Liliana Macarone as the intelligent (but often disregarded) Cléante.

QSE will once again be running its Shakespeare Beyond initiatives A Night At The Theatre (ANATT) and Relaxed Performance as part of the season. Established in 2016, ANATT invites patrons to donate the price of a ticket and QSE then works with community partners to share tickets with people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience live theatre. A Relaxed Performance of Tartuffe will be held at 2pm on Saturday, July 20th. Relaxed Performances are designed to welcome people who may enjoy a more relaxed performance environment, including (but not limited to) people with autism or individuals with sensory sensitivity. Parents and caregivers may also find the inclusive atmosphere relaxing with audience members free to move, speak, and respond throughout the performance.

For ticketing and further information, visit the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble website