Murder in the Cathedral

Murder in the Cathedral, written for the Canterbury Festival in 1935, was one of T. S. Eliot’s first dramatic achievements, and it remains one of the great plays of the century. It takes as its subject matter the martyrdom of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, depicting the political intrigue and events that led to his assassination, in his own cathedral church, by the knights of Henry II in 1170. Like Greek drama, the play’s theme and form are rooted in religion, ritual purgation and renewal, and it was this return to the earliest sources of drama that brought poetry triumphantly back to the English stage at the time.

"The theatre is enriched by this poetic play of grave beauty and momentous decision." —The New York Times 

When a king’s ambition clashes with God’s will, where does a man’s true loyalty lie?

• Historical Drama: Experience the fatal clash between Archbishop Thomas Becket and King Henry II, a conflict of church and state that culminates in the archbishop’s 1170 assassination inside Canterbury Cathedral.
• Spiritual Temptation: Witness Becket’s internal struggle as four tempters challenge his resolve, forcing him to confront the ultimate treason: doing the right deed for the wrong reason.
• Inspired by Greek Tragedy: Discover a play structured like a classical drama, complete with a Chorus of Canterbury women who comment on the action and give voice to the fears of the common people.
• Lyrical Verse: Immerse yourself in the powerful, poetic language of T. S. Eliot, which brought verse triumphantly back to the modern English stage.