Written by Mark Jenkins, of Welsh descent, PLAYING BURTON is a fascinating, one-man play about the international star of stage and screen, Richard Burton. it offers a penetrating look at the notorious actor’s life—from growing up in an impoverished mining community in South Wales to becoming one of the greatest performers of his generation. PLAYING BURTON follows his passionate, though tempestuous, love affair with Elizabeth Taylor and his tragic, yet very public, battle with alcoholism. Ultimately, it is a soulful exploration of fame, ambition, and identity told from the perspective of the megastar who experienced it all.
PLAYING BURTON opened in 1994 to huge acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It returned to the Edinburgh Fringe in 1997 and broke all previous box office records. That production went on to play in London, Budapest, Jerusalem, Sydney and Hong Kong. The play has run continuously worldwide ever since. It has been translated and performed in four languages and has been adapted for the screen. The film, Playing Burton, produced by Spinning Head Films, received the Best Film Award by BAFTA Cymru in 2014.
Acclaimed actor Brian Mallon, of Irish descent, reprises the role of Richard Burton. In the fall of 2005, Mallon performed PLAYING BURTON at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe garnering great accolades after previously playing the role in New York, Los Angeles and Cardiff. Beyond his talent, Mallon’s fluency in Welsh provides another convincing asset, as Welsh was Burton’s first language.
Performances: Dec. 1 – 18, 2022 (Thurs. – Sat. at 7:30 pm and Sun. at 2:30 pm)
Tickets: AtlasArts.org/playingburton
Prices: Adults $25 (Thurs. & Sun.) and $35 (Fri. & Sat.)
Venue: ATLAS Performing Arts Center
1333 H St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 { LAB II }
Full Schedule:
PREVIEW: Wednesday, November 30, 7:30 pm
PERFORMANCES:
Thursday December 1, 7:30 pm — Patron Opening Night
Friday December 2, 7:30 pm
Saturday December 3, 7:30 pm — Press Night
Sunday December 4, 2:30 pm
Wednesday December 7 – 7:30 pm
Thursday December 8 – 7:30 pm
Friday December 9 – 7:30 pm
Saturday December 10 – 7:30 pm
Sunday December 11 – 2:30 pm
Wednesday December 14, 7:30 pm
Thursday December 15 – 7:30 pm
Friday December 16 – 7:30 pm
Saturday December 17 – 7:30 pm
Sunday December 18 – 2:30 pm — Talkback
