Fiona Shaw takes on the role of the free-spirited Galactia in Howard Barker’s darkly humorous and provocative Scenes From An Execution.

Commissioned to paint a commemorative canvas representing the triumphant Battle of Lepanto, Galactia instead creates a breathtaking scene of war-torn carnage. In her fierce determination to stay true to herself, she turns her back on the authorities and faces incarceration, while her younger lover Carpeta, who is approached to take her place, seizes the assignment for himself.

Set in 16th century Venice, Scenes From An Execution is a fearless exploration of sexual politics and the timeless tension between personal ambition and moral responsibility, between the patron’s demands and the artist’s autonomy.

Olivier Award-winning Shaw is well known to the National Theatre having previously appeared in London Assurance, Mother Courage And Her Children, Happy Days, Richard II, The Good Person Of Sichuan, The Powerbook and Machinal at the venue. Her on-screen appearances include Dorian Gray, The Tree Of Life and the Harry Potter films.

Scenes From An Execution is directed by Tom Cairns whose recent work includes Being Shakespeare at the Trafalgar Studios. He has also directed Aristocrats at the National Theatre, Phaedra at the Donmar Warehouse and All About My Mother at the Old Vic.