The Rose Tattoo

“I can’t swallow my heart! – Not till I hear the truck stop in front of the house and his key in the lock of the door! – When I call him, and him shouting back, ‘Sì, sono qui!’ In his hair, Assunta, he has – oil of roses. And when I wake up at night – the air, the dark room’s – full of – roses… Each time is the first time with him. Time doesn’t pass…”

Set amongst the vibrant Sicilian community of New Orleans, Tennessee Williams’ life-affirming tale is charged with desire, infatuation and blazing southern sun.

All through the night Serafina craves her husband’s return; at dawn, she learns he’s been shot dead. For the next three years, she channels her fiercely passionate love into mourning, living on past glories while straitjacketing her vivacious daughter, Rosa.

But an ugly rumour gathers force to contaminate her memories, just as Rosa turns rebel and an eye-catching truck driver comes knocking at the door.

“I want you to give me that little gold ring on your ear to put on my finger. – I want to give you my heart to keep forever! And ever! And ever!”

Featuring Zoë Wanamaker; Directed by Steven Pimlott and Nicholas Hytner