Skip to main content
2003

Blood

Written by Lars Norén

Play Details

Context

Place Premiered
Betty Nansen Teatret, Copenhagen (1995)

Artistic Director
Ian Rickson

Translated by
Maja Zade

Original Language 
Swedish

Dates Performed

Thursday 18th September 2003
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs

Play Details

Synopsis

Rosa Sabato, a renowned journalist and writer, is the central figure in Lars Norén’s gripping play “Blood.” Set within the confines of a brightly-lit TV studio and the intimate spaces of personal lives, the narrative unfolds through Rosa’s reflections and interactions, revealing a haunting portrait of trauma, identity, and the human condition. Rosa’s new book, an autobiographical narrative, serves as the focal point for the interview, diving deep into her past experiences in warzones and under a military dictatorship in Chile. The play interweaves her professional bravado with personal grief, particularly the disappearance of her son during political upheaval, illustrating the profound impact of political and social turmoil on individual lives.

The play explores themes of identity and self-discovery, power and ambition, love and betrayal, and the clash between tradition and modernity. Formed as a drama with elements of tragedy, it employs a non-linear narrative to juxtapose past and present, highlighting the lingering scars of historical events. Audience members are subtly made part of the action, enhancing the intimate and confrontational atmosphere. The characters, including Rosa’s husband Eric and her lover Luca, navigate their intertwined lives, revealing the complexities of love, loss, and the search for meaning in the face of relentless suffering.

Director(s)

James Macdonald

Cast & Creative

Cast

Francesca Annis

Cast

Ingrid Lacey

Cast

Nicholas Le Prevost

Cast

Tom Hardy

Translator

Maja Zade

Designer

Hildegard Bechtler

Lighting

Peter Mumford

Sound

Ian Dickinson