Luther (play)

This article is about the John Osborne play. For other uses, see Luther.

Luther
First edition (Faber & Faber)
Written byJohn Osborne
Characters
  • Martin
  • Tetzel
  • Cajetan
  • Knight
  • Staupitz
Date premiered26 June 1961
Place premieredTheatre Royal, Nottingham
Original languageEnglish
GenreDrama
Setting

Luther is a 1961 play by John Osborne depicting the life of Martin Luther, one of the foremost instigators of the Protestant Reformation. Albert Finney created the role of Luther, which he performed with the English Stage Company at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham,[1] the Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt, Paris,[2] the Holland Festival,[2] the Royal Court Theatre, London,[3] the Phoenix Theatre, London,[4] and the St. James Theatre, New York.[5]

The original West End run at the Phoenix ended in March 1962, after 239 performances there, when Finney had to leave the cast to fulfill a contractual obligation with a film company.[6]

Luther won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1964.

  1. ^ Osborne, p. 7
  2. ^ a b "Paris Premiere for Osborne's Luther", The Times, 25 March 1961, p. 3
  3. ^ "Best Guarantee yet of Mr. Osborne's Stamina", The Times, 26 July 1961, p. 13
  4. ^ "More Scope for Mr. Finney", The Times, 6 September 1961, p. 15
  5. ^ Taubman, Howard. "Theater: 'Luther' Stars Albert Finney; John Osborne Drama is at the St. James", The New York Times, 26 September 1963, p. 41 (subscription required)
  6. ^ "Luther to end its run next month", The Times, 16 February 1962, p. 15