The Doctor of Honour

Written by Pedro Calderón de la Barca
Performed in English
1989

Don Gutierre is engaged to marry Dona Leonor, yet decides to marry Dona Mencia instead. Dona Mencia loves Don Henry, and he loves her back. However, she obeys her father’s wishes and marries Don Gutierre.

When the prince returns from military duty, he pursues the married Mencia but she rejects his advances. However, the jealous Gutierre becomes suspicious; he suspects his wife’s fidelity and decides to test her…

Calderon’s tale of disguise, revenge and suspicion culminates in a shocking climax in Gutierre’s vow to become ‘the doctor of his honour’ and plots to exact revenge on his innocent wife for a crime she did not commit…

Translated into English by Roy Campbell. Produced by Cheek by Jowl. The first performance of The Doctor of Honour was at the Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham on 22nd February 1989.

“It benefits all the way from the sheer theatricality of a Cheek by Jowl treatment”
The Scotsman

Cast and creative team

Cast

Name	Character
William Hope	Don Pedro
Neil Pearson	Don Henry
Nigel Terry	Don Gutierre
Killian McKenna	Don Arias / Ludovico
Ben Onwukwe	Don Diego
Michelle Fairley	Dona Mencia
Claire Benedict	Dona Leonar
Mark Williams	Coquin
Sue Devaney	Jacinta

Creative Team

Role	Name
Director	Lindsay Posner
Designer	Julian McGowan
Music Director	Stephen Warbeck
Lighting Designer	Rick Fisher
Movement Consultant	Geraldine Stephenson

Previous performances

Previous Performances

Date	Location
24 April–15 May 1989	London, Donmar Warehouse, UK
14–15 April 1989	Wallingford, Corn Exchange, UK
12–13 April 1989	Kidderminster, The Rose, UK
10–11 April 1989	Leighton Buzzard, Vandyke Upper School, UK
6–8 April 1989	Crawley, The Hawth Studio, UK
3 April–4 March 1989	Shrewsbury, Music Hall, UK
28–30 March 1989	Epsom, Playhouse Theatre, UK
23–24 March 1989	Hounslow, Centerspace, UK
20–21 March 1989	King’s Lynn, Fermoy Castle, UK
17–18 March 1989	Basingstoke, Central Studio, UK
13–15 March 1989	Hemel Hempstead, Old Town Hall, UK
10–11 March 1989	Oundle, Stahl Theatre, UK
7–9 March 1989	Stratford–upon–Avon, Swan Theatre, UK
3–5 March 1989	Fareham, Drama Centre, UK
1–2 March 1989	Chipping Norton, The Theatre, UK
27–28 February 1989	Wolverhampton, Arena Theatre, UK
24–25 February 1989	Builth Wells, Wyeside Arts Centre, UK
22–23 February 1989	Birmingham, Midlands Arts Centre, UK

Reviews

“It benefits all the way from the sheer theatricality of a Cheek by Jowl treatment.”
The Scotsman

“How much we owe Cheek by Jowl for presenting this British professional premiere… Accurately conveys Calderon’s rich metrical variety.”
Michael Coveney, The Financial Times