The Malcontent, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

The Malcontent: a daring satire on the depravity of the upper class, written by John Marston at the start of King James I's reign and staged in the same year as constellation of other great plays, including Measure for Measure and Othello. Now the Globe is bringing Marston's finest work to life as their third production in the newly opened Sam Wanamaker Plahouse, and tickets are flying out of the box office.

The malcontent of the play is the disguised duke, Malevole, who makes it his life's work to call attention to the greed, thoughtlessness and hypocrisy of the landed gentry. It's a passionate and acerbic work, fizzing with anger in lines such as "Envious ambition never sates his thirst/ Till sucking all, he swells and swells and bursts." In the baiting of his own courtiers, and in particular through the character of a jealous husband, it’s easy to see the strains of inspiration it shares with Shakespeare's Othello. 

The Globe have cleverly scheduled this production not long after their acclaimed Duchess of Malfi. In many ways, The Malcontent is a maturer, bolder story and one that perhaps isn't told as often. 

As if to highlight its low profile, it has been unusually cast. It will be performed by the Globe Young Players — a group of 12—16 year olds who auditioned specially, and it’s a lovely change to see young actors given the opportunity to tackle classical theatre rather than the all-too-familiar teenage soap operas. It is also particularly apt since The Malcontent was originally performed by a troupe of young boys in 1604. Unlike the RSC's version 12 years ago, where the setting was transferred from Genoa to Latin America, in true Globe style this looks to be a more traditional staging. 

It's directed by Caitlin McLeod, whose previous work includes Mike Bartlett's Love, Love, Love at the Royal Court and more recently Facts at the Finborough. Tickets will be gone in a flash, so book as soon as possible.