The Cid

The Cid

Written by Pierre Corneille
Translated by David Bryer
Performed in English
British première
1986–1987

The play is set in Seville, the capital of Andalucia in southern Spain. Don Fernando, the King, to deter attempts by the newly expelled Moors to regain their lost province, has moved his court south.

The King’s right hand man and commander of his armies is the Count Don Gomez. The King is to choose a tutor for his son and the Count takes it for granted that this position of honour will be given to him.

Don Gomez’s daughter, Chimena, is pursued by a number of young men but is in love with only one; Don Rodrigo. Don Rodrigo’s father, Don Diego, once occupied the same position as Chimena’s father. He is proud of his past and expects much of his only son.

The King’s daughter, the Infanta, has been encouraging the growing love between Chimena and Don Rodrigo for her own private reasons.

The British première of the stage version, specially commissioned by David Bryer. Produced by Cheek by Jowl.

“The strength of Declan Donnellan’s wholly admirable production lies in a combination of simplicity and style.”
The Sunday Times

Cast and creative team

Cast

Name	Character
Mary Askham	Elvira
Keith Bartlett	Don Gomez
Patricia Kerrigan	Chimena
Anne White	The Infanta
Melina McGraw	Leonora
Patrick Romer	Don Diego
Aden Gillett	Don Rodrigo
Stephen Simms	Don Arias
David Morrissey	Don Alonzo
Hugh Ross	The King
Timothy Walker	Don Sancho

Creative Team

Role	Name
Director	Declan Donnellan
Designer	Nick Ormerod
Composer / Musical Director	Joanna MacGregor
Lighting Designer and Company Manager	Alex Starr
Costume Supervisor	Louise Page
Costume makers	Keith Bish, Hilary Boulton

Previous performances

Previous Performances

Date	Location
23–26 February 1987	Stratford–upon–Avon, Swan Theatre, UK
19 January–14 February 1987	London, Donmar Warehouse, UK
19 December 1986	Shrewsbury, Ashton Theatre, UK
17 December 1986	Kidderminster, Rose Theatre, UK
11–12 December 1986	Carlisle, Stanwix Art Theatre, UK
1–4 December 1986	Bury St Edmunds, Theatre Royal, UK
29–30 November 1986	Chipping Norton, The Theatre, UK
28–29 November 1986	Birmingham, Midlands Arts Centre, UK
26 November 1986	Milton Keynes, Woughton Centre, UK
20 November 1986	Cambridge, Cambridge Arts Theatre, UK
18–19 November 1986	Fareham, Drama Centre, UK
13–16 November 1986	Richmond, Georgian Theatre, UK
11 November 1986	Stamford, Arts Centre, UK
3 November 1986	Hull, Spring Street Theatre, UK
29 October 1986	Chipping Norton, The Theatre, UK
22 October 1986	Brighton, Gardner Centre, UK
17 October 1986	Bracknell, Wilde Theatre, UK
13–15 October 1986	Canterbury, Gulbenkian Theatre, UK
10 October 1986	Hemel Hempstead, Old Town Hall, UK
7 October 1986	Hemel Hempstead, Old Town Hall, UK
2–5 October 1986	Dublin, Mansion House, Ireland
25–26 September 1986	Basingstoke, Central Studio, UK
22–23 September 1986	Lowestoft, Seagull Theatre, UK
16–18 September 1986	King’s Lynn, Fermoy Centre, UK

Awards and reviews

Awards

Olivier Award – Director of the Year
1987 – For The Cid, Twelfth Night and Macbeth at the Donmar Warehouse

Reviews

“The strength of Declan Donnellan’s wholly admirable production lies in a combination of simplicity and style.”
Sunday Times

“Remarkable…David Bryer’s decasyllabic verse translation also blows sky high the usual puny claim that French classic drama cannot be done in English. The matinee audience at Dublin’s Mansion House sat as if gripped by a vice.”
The Guardian

Production photo — Photograph: Peter Mares

“David Bryer’s decasyllabic verse translation blows sky high the usual puny claim that French classic drama cannot be done in English. The matinee audience at Dublin’s Mansion House sat as if gripped by a vice.”
The Guardian