Troilus and Cressida at Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT

Institute Of Psychoanalysis Event Explores Shakespeare's Troilus And Cressida - Does The Play Mirror The Playwright's Own Love Life And Political Aspirations? Sunday 20 September 2009

Shakespeare's Globe theatre will be the venue for a fascinating Institute of Psychoanalysis event exploring Shakespeare's life in the context of his play Troilus and Cressida. The event takes place on Sunday 20 September 2009.  

Following a matinee performance of the Globe's production of the play, the audience will hear Gerald Wooster, a psychoanalyst with a longstanding interest in the theatre, give a presentation entitled "Is not this play a mirror to the tragedy of Shakespeare's own love life and political hopes?" 

Giles Block, Shakespeare's Globe's Head of Text, and psychoanalyst Jennifer Johns will respond and continue the discussion, and the event will be chaired by psychoanalyst Marcus Johns. 

Gerald Wooster says, "During the 30 years since I began to study Shakespeare's works, I've found myself looking at Shakespeare himself and thinking that he must have been much closer to affairs of state than he's given credit for. There is a lot in Troilus and Cressida which relates to Shakespeare's own losses and aspirations. I want to ask how Shakespeare came to write a such a cynical play and yet one that encompasses some very powerful feelings." 

Troilus and Cressida is set during the Greek siege of Troy. On the Trojan side of the walls the beautiful Cressida, aided and abetted by her hilariously intriguing uncle Pandarus, has embarked upon a passionate love affair with Prince Troilus. When Cressida is forced to join her treacherous father in the Greek camp, can their love survive a difficult separation or will it join the other casualties of war?

This event is one of a range of public events exploring art and culture from a psychoanalytic perspective organised by the Institute of Psychoanalysis. The Institute of Psychoanalysis main UK professional organisation for psychoanalysts in the UK and a global centre of excellence in the provision of psychoanalytic training, education, publication and clinical practice. For more information http://www.psychoanalysis.org.uk

Press contacts

Institute of Psychoanalysis: Ginette Goulston-Lincoln, 020 7923 0807 / 07958 448002 [email protected] or Caroline Graty 07984 911913 [email protected] 

Shakespeare's Globe: [email protected] and [email protected] 020 7902 1492

Listings information

The Institute of Psychoanalysis: Troilus and Cressida: "Is not this play a mirror to the tragedy of Shakespeare's own love life and political hopes?" 

Performance of Troilus and Cressida followed by presentation and discussion

Speakers: Gerald Wooster, psychoanalyst, Giles Block, Head of Text at Shakespeare's Globe, Jennifer Johns, psychoanalyst. Chaired by Marcus Johns, psychoanalyst

Date: Sunday 20 September 2009

Venue: Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT

Time: 1pm performance of Troilus and Cressida, 6pm presentation and discussion (Nancy Knowles Lecture Theatre)

Price: (including theatre ticket) £33, £38, £45 or £51 

Booking: contact Ann Glynn, [email protected], tel 020 7563 5017

Gerald Wooster is a psychoanalyst who developed a longstanding interest in the theatre, and Shakespeare in particular, since first seeing The Winter's Tale 30 years ago. 

Giles Block has led the text work at Shakespeare's Globe since 1999 and to date has been involved in over 20 productions. This season he adds the Globe's three new Shakespeare productions to the list. Directing at Shakespeare's Globe includes Antony and Cleopatra (1999), Hamlet (2000) and Troilus and Cressida (2005). 

Jennifer Johns is a psychoanalyst in private practice. She came to psychoanalysis from general practice, and has worked in psychotherapy departments for the NHS, most recently at University College Hospital. She is particularly interested in psychosomatic medicine, and in communicating psychoanalytic ideas in a useful way.

Marcus Johns is a psychoanalyst. He has retired from the Tavistock Clinic, where he was a child and family psychiatrist.

The Institute of Psychoanalysis is the main UK professional organisation for psychoanalysts in the UK and a global centre of excellence in the provision of psychoanalytic training, education, publication and clinical practice. Established in 1919, its membership has included Sigmund Freud, Anna Freud, Melanie Klein, Wilfred Bion and Donald Winnicott. It is the home of the London Clinic of Psychoanalysis, founded in 1926, one of a number of clinics established by Freud in Europe still in operation today. It offers consultations and help finding an analyst, in selected cases at a low fee.

It administers these activities on behalf of the British Psychoanalytical Society and is a member institution of the British Psychoanalytic Council. The Institute is also a member of the International Psychoanalytical Association, which safeguards standards in psychoanalysis and ensures a rigorous training process. 

For more information visit http://www.psychoanalysis.org.uk

For clinical enquiries contact the London Clinic of Psychoanalysis on 020 7563 5002, [email protected] 

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