Culture Watch: Edward II

In the realm of queer culture, the story of Edward II features prominently.

History tells us that Edward II was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in 1327. Much of what happened during Edward's reign - and the nature of his relationship with Piers Gaveston - was documented after the fact by unreliable narrators, often with a vested interest in besmirching Edward's reputation.

We also have a play written by Christopher Marlowe. Marlowe is one of the most famous playwrights of the Elizabethan era. It's widely accepted that Marlowe was a significant influence on the work of William Shakespeare. We don't know much about Marlowe's life - the little that we do know suggests that he was living life large, and most likely was a total faggot.

Marlowe's play, Edward II, was first published in 1593 - shortly after his death. It is one of the earliest English history plays, and focuses on the relationship between Edward II, Piers Gaveston, and Edward's murder on the orders of Roger Mortimer.

Drawing on source material from a historical chronicle published a few years earlier, Marlowe was apparently drawn to the story because of the intense relationship between Edward and Gaveston.

It's a play that has been performed consistently through the ages. Derek Jarman made a notable film adaptation in 1991.

The latest incarnation is by the RSC, staging a new production at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Review

Directed by Daniel Raggett, the RSC give us a version of Edward II that seems fairly faithful to Marlowe's original text.

The characters play their part and the story is told.

The staging is where things are mixed up a bit - with Raggett seemingly drawing inspiration from Jarman's filmic aesthetic, mixing contemporary flourishes with the medieval context.

Daniel Evans plays Edward II. Evans is in good shape - he's been working out - but he is a man in his early 50s. Playing Gaveston is Eloka Ivo - clearly a generation younger than Evans, this is Ivo's debut with the RSC and he plays Gaveston as headstrong and lusty.

It's an interesting casting dynamic - immediately setting up an impression of Edward as a bit of a fool, an older man besotted with a younger toy-boy. It contrasts with the way that this story is told, which generally paints them as passionate lovers of about the same age.

There are some stand-out moments in this production. We're first introduced to Gaveston in a bathhouse scene. It's a brief scene but it has visual impact and gives us a clear understanding of Gaveston's character and motivations.

The murder of Edward is also incredibly compelling. The legend is that he was killed by having a red-hot poker shoved up his ass. That's what Raggett gives us, and it's confidently handled and unflinchingly portrayed.

But this is a patchy production. Stavros Demetraki does good work with the unevenly written role of Spencer. I needed more from Ruta Gedmintas as Isabella. I was mystified by Enzo Cilenti playing Mortimer as a middle-management insurance broker.

Is this a production worth seeing? Yes, absolutely. Edward II is part of our queer history and a cultural touchpoint, and it's a rare chance to experience the work of Christopher Marlowe. I'm not convinced that this is a production that will transfer into London, so you're probably going to need to make the journey to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Edward II is on at the Swan Theatre until 5 April.

Photos from the production