ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Robert Icke is an English playwright and director most known for re-imaginings of classic books and plays such as 1984, Oresteria and Mary Stuart. He studied at Ian Ramsey Church of England School, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and King’s College, Cambridge. He founded a theater company known as Arden Theater. Later he became associate director at Headlong Theatre and associate director at Almeida Theater. He received a Ibsen Artistic Residence at Internationaal Theatre Amsterdam, headed by director Ivo Van Hove. Many critics have praised his work, calling him “the great hope of British theatre”.
This play is a re-adaption of “Professor Bernhardi”, by playwright Arthur Schnitzler. Born in Vienna Austria in 1862, Schnitzler was as a jewish novelist, short story writer. He was a highly controversial for his depictions of sexuality in his writings and for his stance against anti-semitism. During his life, his play, Professor Bernhardi, was banned in Austria but performed in Berlin. After Schnitzler’s death, Hitler criticized his works as “Jewish Filth” and his books were banned in Austria and Germany until the end of the war in 1945. Today Schnitzler, is regarded as a writer who was ahead of his time.
ABOUT THE PLAY
The Doctor opened in 2019. It is a modern re-adaptation of the 1912 play “Professor Bernhardi”, by vieneese playwright Arthur Schnitzler. The play follows professor Ruth Wolff, a jewish medical doctor who steps into a public controversy when she refuses to let a priest give last rites to a underage patient dying from a self-induced abortion. After a video of the altercation goes viral, she and the hospital receive severe public backlash. The play questions the role of identity, privilege, race, religion, mental health and sexuality in the medical system and media.
JOIN PLAY DATE
Play Date is a monthly play reading activity, held on the third Thursday of each month. We read one play from around the world together. The play reading is followed by a group discussion about the play. Anyone is welcome to join and practice reading out loud, regardless of experience or level of English comprehension. With Play Date, learning English becomes fun. This is a place where you can practice speaking out loud, expand your vocabulary and meet new people. Play Date is produced by Crane Creations Theatre Company. Crane Creations is an immigrant led professional theatre company located in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. Join us for our next Play Date!