Dr Semmelweiss
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About
Mark Rylance returns to the West End as one of medicine’s greatest pioneers, maverick Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis – the man whose research could save many millions of mothers’ lives.
In Vienna, a city of artistic and scientific revolution, thousands of women are still dying in childbirth each and every year. Only Dr Semmelweis can see the invisible killer at work, but to stop it, he must convince his colleagues to admit culpability and approve change.
Damned by an establishment that questions his methods, his motives and even his sanity, Semmelweis is haunted by the women he has failed to save. Can he finally convince the greatest doctors of 19th Century Europe to accept his argument – and what will it cost him to make an almost impossible case?
Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions
Show Run
29th June 2023 - 7th October 2023
Venue
Harold Pinter Theatre
‘A smash-hit’
— Mail on Sunday
‘Mark Rylance mesmerises in this unforgettable play’
— The Observer
Cast
Mark Rylance
Dr Semmelweiss
Mark Rylance is an internationally celebrated English actor, director, and playwright, renowned for his transformative stage performances and subtle, magnetic screen presence. He rose to prominence through his work with Shakespeare’s Globe, where his interpretations of classic roles such as Hamlet, Richard III, and Twelfth Night earned him widespread acclaim. Rylance’s theatrical achievements include multiple Olivier and Tony Awards, highlighting his extraordinary skill in bringing depth, humor, and humanity to every character.
On screen, Rylance has delivered memorable performances in films like Bridge of Spies (2015), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Dunkirk (2017), impressing audiences with his quiet intensity and emotional precision. Known for his dedication to craft and his ability to inhabit both historical and contemporary roles, Rylance remains one of the most influential and respected figures in modern theatre and film.
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