In celebration of the centenary of his birth, the Octagon in Bolton reaffirms its commitment to American drama with Arthur Miller’s celebrated story of loyalty, community and possessive love A View from the Bridge.
Directed by David Thacker, who had a close working relationship with the writer stemming from his years as artistic director at the Young Vic theatre, A View from the Bridge was Thacker’s first experience of Miller, having watched Bob Charlton’s production of the same play in York, many years before.
David commented: “when I first saw it in 1975, I was knocked out by it. I'd never before seen a play with that combination of qualities. It was utterly gripping and psychologically very accurate; it was the first time I'd seen a great play with a working class tragic hero, and it made me cry.”
Longshoreman Eddie Carbone lives with his wife and niece in a tight-knit American-Italian neighbourhood in 1950s Brooklyn. In a community where family comes first, Eddie welcomes Beatrice’s cousins into their cramped apartment, but soon finds himself battling with his inner demons.
It runs from January 15 to February 14.