Marilyn Monroe play to get world premiere in Edinburgh

THE world premiere of an intimate portrait of the life of one of the 20th century's most enigmatic film stars, Marilyn Monroe, will be one of the highlights of the Royal Lyceum's 2010-11 season, the Evening News can exclusively reveal today. In Marilyn, which will run from 15 March-2 April, 2011, the year is 1960 and Marilyn Monroe is staying in the Beverly Hills Hotel with her husband Arthur Miller, while preparing to film Let's Make Love.

In the apartment opposite, the great French actress Simone Signoret waits for her husband Yves Montand to return from the studio. Both successful actresses in their own right, the women form an uneasy friendship under the watchful eye of Patti, hairdresser to the stars, but it will become a friendship that will test their deepest beliefs and will threaten to destroy them both.

Marilyn, a co-production, with Glasgow's Citizens' Theatre, is the latest work by Sue Glover, best known for the Scottish classic Bondagers and will be directed by Jeremy Raison.

Royal Lyceum artistic director Mark Thomson said: "I am delighted to be co-producing with the Citizens' on this intimate and revealing new play by Sue Glover, a writer I have long admired."

Other highlights in the Grindlay Street theatre's new season include a new production of Romeo And Juliet, directed by Tony Cownie; Oscar Wilde's classic comedy of manners, The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Mr Thomson; Educating Agnes, Liz Lochhead's Scottish version of Moliere's School for Wives; A View From the Bridge by Arthur Miller and the UK Premiere of Age of Arousal, by Linda Griffiths, a co-production with Edinburgh-based Stellar Quines Theatre Company.

Launching the season which opens with the return of Shakespeare's star crossed lovers on 17 September, Mr Thomson said: "The season has powerful strands of love, sexual politics and identity running through it.

"These are eternal concerns, which we're articulating in vivid theatrical form through the ages."

The season will also see the return of associate artists Tony Cownie, Philip Pinsky and John Dove. Mr Dove will direct A View From The Bridge, a modern social tragedy exploring the life of the family of a dock worker in post-war New York.

Age of Arousal will be directed by Muriel Romanes.

Tickets for the Royal Lyceum's 2010-11 season, which also features The Snow Queen by Stuart Paterson over the Christmas period, go on sale early August.

SEASON 2010/11 AT A GLANCE

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare Directed by Tony Cowie, runs 17 September-16 October

The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde

Directed by Mark Thomson, runs 22 October-20 November

The Snow Queen, by Stuart Paterson

Directed by Mark Thomson, runs 2-31 December

A View From the Bridge, by Arthur Miller

Directed by John Dove, runs 14 January-12 February

UK Premiere: Age of Arousal, by Linda Griffiths Directed by Muriel Romanes, runs from 18 February-12 March

World Premiere: Marilyn, by Sue Glover

Directed by Jeremy Raison, runs 15 March-2 April

Educating Agnes, by Liz Lochhead Directed by Tony Cownie, runs 8 April-7 May