Ben Hur
by Patrick Barlow


Highlights
Synopsis
Based on one of the timeless stories of one of the best-selling books of the nineteenth century, this stage adaptation condenses the epic tale so that it can be told by just four actors (or it can be expanded for a cast of up to twenty-six).
The story follows an amateur theatre troupe as they produce the massive tale of the fictional Jewish prince and merchant Judah Ben-Hur.
He falls to galley slave and rises to champion charioteer within Jerusalem during the life of Jesus Christ, while the actors struggle along through the piece as rivalries form and offstage romances interfere.
Complete with chariot race, sea battle, and stage combat, Patrick Barlow weaves his compressed style popularized by The 39 Steps into one of the largest stories ever told.
Press Reviews
"[...] more quick changes and tomfoolery than an entire run of Monty Python."
— The Guardian
Characters
| Character |
|---|
Actor 2 Caspar, Archangel Gabriel, Messala, Jesus, Galley Captain, Roman Captain, Galley Slave 2, Nubian dancer, Valentinyo. |
Actor 3 Mary, Tirzah, Esther, Ancient Slave, Nubian dancer, Catalinya, Naboth, Mrs Pilate. |
Actor 4 Balthasar, Sara, Centurion, Slave-driver, Quintus Arrius, Pontius Pilate. |
Actor 1 Melchior, Ben-Hur, Nubian dancer. |
Videos
Ben Hur Tricycle Theatre trailer
Publication
Ben Hur is a comedy play written by Patrick Barlow and published by Samuel French (2017).
Community Reviews
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Buy Play
Paperback
Samuel French · 2017 · 138 pp
Performance Rights
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