Lincs: Star cast for Les Liaisons Dangereuses live from London

National Theatre Live returns to Trinity Arts Centre in Gainsborough this week with Les Liaisons Dangereuses.
Janet McTeer (left), Dominic West and Michelle Dockery star in Les Liaisons Dangereuses which is being screened live at Trinity Arts Centre from the National Theatre in LondonJanet McTeer (left), Dominic West and Michelle Dockery star in Les Liaisons Dangereuses which is being screened live at Trinity Arts Centre from the National Theatre in London
Janet McTeer (left), Dominic West and Michelle Dockery star in Les Liaisons Dangereuses which is being screened live at Trinity Arts Centre from the National Theatre in London

A stellar cast including Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), Janet McTeer (The White Queen) and Dominic West (The Wire) will present this tale of sexual games, malice and wits.

In 1782, Choderlos de Laclos’ novel of sex, intrigue and betrayal in pre-revolutionary France scandalised the world.

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Two hundred years later, Christopher Hampton’s adaptation swept the board, winning the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Play.

Josie Rourke’s revival now marks the play’s 30-year anniversary.

Former lovers, the Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont now compete in games of seduction and revenge.

Merteuil incites Valmont to corrupt the innocent Cecile de Volanges before her wedding night.

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But Valmont has targeted the peerlessly virtuous and beautiful Madame de Tourvel.

While these merciless aristocrats toy with others’ hearts and reputations, their own may prove more fragile than they supposed.

The late Alan Rickman starred in the 1985 Royal Shakespeare company production of the show, alongside Lindsay Duncan, Lesley Manville and Juliet Stephenson.

That production then transferred to London a year later and won Olivier Awards for the production and Duncan individually, who won the Best Actress Award.

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Rickman and Duncan also starred in the 1987 production on Broadway.

The story has also twice been turned into a Hollywood film, in 1998 as Dangerous Liaisons starring Glenn Close, John Malkovic and Uma Thurman and a year later as Valmont, directed by Milos Forman and starring Colin Firth, Annette Bening and Meg Tilly.

The live streaming at Gainsborough is on Thursday, January 28 at 7pm.

Tickets are £12 and £10 from the box office on 01427 676655 or online at www.trinityarts.co.uk