Darlington Theatre Players and Marloo Theatre are starting their 2001 season with their new production of Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman, by Italy’s leading playwright and winner of the 1997 Nobel Prize for Literature, Dario Fo.

Elizabeth, which will be performed in English, is set in the bedroom of Queen Elizabeth I. Driven to the point of madness by her guilt over the beheading of her cousin, Mary Stuart, Elizabeth sees conspiracies and plotters all around her, except where they actually exist. She seeks solace in the companionship of her maid, Martha, and the home remedies of a grotesque quack, Dame Grosslady, as well as in the arms of a string of young lovers.

This hilariously slapstick and bawdy comedy is being directed by award-winning director Paul Treasure, whose previous productions include Lady Windermere’s Fan (Best Production 2000 - Marloo Theatre) and Riders to the Sea (Best Overall Production - 1999 Independent Theatre Association Dramafest).

The small but talented cast include Tracee Sliskovic as Elizabeth, Desiree Schrock as Martha, Peter Carr as Dame Grosslady, Fiona Forster and John Hall, as well as Troy Hall, who was last year named Best Actor at Marloo and Most Promising Young Talent at the Independent Theatre Association’s Dramafest.

It is suggested that this play is suitable for Mature Audiences only.

It contains Frequent Coarse Language and Nudity