Peter Shaffer’s The Royal Hunt of the Sun was the first new play staged by the National Theatre in 1964, when it was still a decade away from moving into its present home on the South Bank. Since then, the play’s epic scale, huge cast and laconic stage directions such as “They cross the Andes”, have given it the status of a legend.
Set in Peru, during the ancient rule of the Inca, it tells the amazing story of how the aged Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, led a band of 167 men on his third expedition to South America in 1532. Looking for gold, they crossed the Andes in full armour, massacred 3,000 native Incas and captured their sun king, Atahuallpa.
Beautifully designed by Anthony Ward, Trevor Nunn’s exciting revival makes good use of the Olivier stage to do justice to the broad sweep of the play’s opening and his account of the hardships faced by Pizarro and his men is satisfyingly economical and visually thrilling. But most spectacular of all is the appearance of Atahuallpa, stunningly bathed in gold and majesty.
After the adventures of the first half, the play’s second half, during which Pizarro debates religion and fate with the imprisoned Atahuallpa, is more of a chamber piece and an engrossing one at that. Alun Armstrong’s gruff no-nonsense Pizarro contrasts well with Paterson Joseph’s sinuous and charismatic sun king.
Equally engaging are Malcolm Storry as the play’s narrator and Oliver Cotton as the expedition’s chaplain. The result is a rich feast of ideas and spectacle.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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