In Development The Provok’d Wife:

Last season, we commissioned playwright and actor Rick Roberts to adapt The Provok’d Wife (1697) by English dramatist and architect Sir John Vanbrugh. We chose this rarely performed classic for the intelligence of Vanbrugh’s writing, his contemporary ideas about marriage and his wonderful parts for women.

The premise—that a wife trapped in an abusive marriage might consider either leaving it or taking a lover—outraged many in the late 17th century. Vanbrugh chose to bring attention to the subordinate legal position of married women and the complexities of separation, using sophisticated language and bawdy humour.

Rick has streamlined the text, brought minor characters to the fore and invigorated the text with a brilliant design concept.

Last winter, we assembled an incredible team of actors to workshop the first draft. This spring, we will workshop the final draft at the George Brown Theatre School in Toronto and present a public reading of the script.