SYNOPSIS

Jerome Kilty’s Dear Liar marks the very beginning of the 50-year success story that is Vienna’s English Theatre. In 1963 founder Ruth Brinkmann gave her debut as Mrs Patrick Campbell, directed by her husband, co-founder Franz Schafranek, in the Palais Erzherzog Karl in the heart of Vienna. More than any other piece, this show has played a major part in the theatre’s history and thus provides the perfect opening production for the Jubilee Season.

Dear Liar is based upon the enthralling 40-year correspondence between dramatist, Bernard Shaw and legendary actress, Beatrice Stella Campbell known to all as Mrs Patrick Campbell; the letters that hurtled between the pair chronicle the intriguing relationship between these two fascinating and head-strong personalities. Stella and Joey – as the actress fondly called Shaw – are constantly at odds with one another, chiding, wounding, obstinate, cheeky, rude and even downright foolish; and yet, this verbal warfare never diminished their passionate affection for one another. To this day, Shaw’s and Campbell’s “love affair on paper” remains deeply moving.

Cast & Creative Team

There will be one intermission of twenty minutes.

No photographs or recording allowed in the theatre without prior permission from the management.