Titus Andronicus, the “grotesquely violent” Shakespearean tale of revenge, has 14 deaths, many violently bloody, as well as rape and mutilation.
But that’s nothing compared to the audience casualty toll of its recent run at the Globe Theatre in London. The Independent can disclose that more than 100 people either fainted or left the theatre after being overcome by on-stage gore – making it a strong candidate for the most potent show in British history.
The production opened at the beginning of May and it became quickly clear that the production had a strong physical effect on the audiences. Those who fainted included The Independent’s reviewer.
The play ran for 51 performances and closed a week ago. A spokeswoman said “two to four people per performance either fainted or left feeling queasy”. Lucy Bailey, the director, said: “I find it all rather wonderful. That people can connect so much to the characters and emotion that they have such a visceral effect.”
She added: “I used to get disappointed if only three people passed out.”
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