The Last Confession
27 April - 19 May
Festival Theatre
By Roger Crane
Cast includes David Suchet
Photography by Shaun Webb
The Vatican 1978: a little-known Cardinal from Venice is elected to succeed Pope Paul VI. A compromise candidate, he takes the name Pope John Paul I, and quickly shows himself to be the liberal the reactionaries within the Catholic Church most feared.
Just thirty-three days later, he is dead. No official investigation is conducted, no autopsy is performed, and the Vatican’s press release about the cause of death is later found to be, in large part, false. And just the evening before his death, John Paul had warned three of his most influential but hostile Cardinals that they would be replaced.
His death marks the climax of fifteen troubled years of controversy and machination within the Church; schisms threaten its unity and the shadow of the Mafia hovers over its financial affairs. Only Cardinal Benelli has the power to challenge the dead Pope's enemies.
This incisive new thriller tracks the dramatic tensions, crises of faith and political manoeuvrings inside the Vatican surrounding the death of the man known as ‘the Smiling Pope’.
David Suchet plays Cardinal Benelli. One of the UK’s leading actors, his many roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company include Shylock, Iago and Caliban. His numerous West End credits include Amadeus, Oleanna and Separation. He is widely known to television audiences from such series as Blott on the Landscape, The Way We Live Now, National Crime Squad and Agatha Christie’s Poirot.
Open University Previews 2007 - Offering dramatically reduced prices for the first three performances of this production.
Co-producers and sponsors
Last performance |
Audio described |
Signed |
Preview |
Spirit FM Preview |
Press night |
School's Matinee |
Charity Performance |
Post-show Talk |
No discount avaliable for this production.
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What a pleasure to encounter such an ambitious new play - a conspiracy thriller and murder mystery t...Charles Spencer - The Daily Telegraph
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David Suchet investigating skulduggery in the Vatican: how easily The Last Confession could have bec...Fiona Mountford - Evening Standard -
The Vatican may be the heart of Christianity's most formidable faith but it has echoed with dark con...Paul Callan - Daily Express
Information
- This production has wheelchair access
- Post show meals are available
Click for more information - Running time: 2hours 35mins
15-20 mins - View seating plans
