‘A View from the Bridge’ written by Arthur Miller was first produced as a one-act play in verse in 1955; the revised and extended two-act play followed in 1956 when it was first performed at the Comedy Theatre in London. The actor Anthony Quayle played the role of Eddie Carbone.

More recently, Michael Gambon (1987) and Ken Stott (2009) have taken on this challenging role to great critical acclaim and ’A View from the Bridge’ is now rightly considered one of Miller’s best plays.

Miller, influenced by the Father of Modern Drama, Henrik Ibsen, pioneered the concept of a modern tragedy about ordinary working people - Willy Loman in ‘Death of a Salesman’, John Proctor in ‘The Crucible’ and Eddie Carbone in ‘A View from the Bridge’ illustrate this idea.  All three characters have a tragic flaw that leads them to their fate. Eddie’s flaw is his obsession for his niece Catherine and his refusal to accept that she cannot belong to him, despite the warnings of his wife Beatrice and lawyer Alfieri.

‘A View from the Bridge’ is a set text in both GCSE English Literature and Drama, so for many in tonight’s audience it will bring alive the story and characters they have been studying.

A talented cast will present real people in Red Hook, Brooklyn as events lead to a dramatic conclusion.