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Archduke review
Royal Court, London Hunger and TB, as much as imperialism, are triggers for the assassination that precipitated the first world war in Rajiv Joseph’s tragicomic reimagining of the plotters’ progress
TL;DR
- The play "Archduke" by Rajiv Joseph offers a fictionalized perspective on the origins of World War I.
- It focuses on the motivations of Gavrilo Princip and other young men, emphasizing hunger, tuberculosis, economic insecurity, historical grievances, and religious fervor.
- The production uses metaphors like TB to represent a generation's lost future and explores radicalization through these themes.
- Director Lyndsey Turner balances historical comedy with contemporary relevance, and designer Es Devlin's set design alludes to theories about the war's causes.
- The play questions historical narratives by exploring a hypothetical scenario where Princip missed his mission.
- Theatricality and Joseph's unique perspective are praised, though it's advised against for exam revision.