Emperor and Galilean

Emperor and Galilean Synopsis

A thrilling version of Ibsen's epic play, charting the true odyssey of an astonishing man as he struggles to find spiritual fulfilment and political pre-eminence. Made Emperor in Rome, Julian attempts to abolish Christianity and restore the old gods. But met with fierce resistance, this great free-thinker becomes a tyrant more hated than his brutal predecessor, Constantius. And in arousing the Christians from their apathy he advances their cause, his life and death altering the course of history in stark opposition to his intent. Ibsen's little-known masterpiece sweeps across Greece and the Middle East from AD351, covering twelve crucial years in the history of civilisation. Completed and published in 1873, Emperor and Galilean was premiered in Leipzig in 1896. This newly created version by Ben Power was first staged at the National Theatre, London, in June 2011, marking the first time that Emperor and Galilean had been performed on the stage in English. The production was directed by Jonathan Kent, with Andrew Scott as the Emperor Julian, and Ian McDiarmid as Maximus.