Lope de Vega was loved with such ferocity by the Spanish nation that when he died in 1635 his state funeral lasted 9 days. In his lifetime he was a sailor, an inquisitor, a bigamist, a priest and a murderer – and he still found time to write something like 800 plays. Peribanez is his greatest work.

A gorgeous young peasant couple, Pedro and Casilda, are so in love it hurts. But their Eden is blighted by the dark lust of the Commander of Ocana, and the play turns into a life and death chase against time, power, and desire. A work glowing with the light of Goya, and the sexy and colourful hues of an Almodovar film – Lope de Vega was the beating heart of the great Spanish Golden Age.

Neil’s history of work with rich and earthy classics include The Alchemist, As You Like It and The Marriage of Figaro. On Peribanez Neil was reunited with designer Dale Ferguson, composer Alan John and choreographer Kate Champion. Together with a brilliant cast of thirteen great physical actors, this quality mob brought the 17th century jumping into full-blooded life on stage.