Salomé, a classic play penned by the legendary Oscar Wilde, is heading to Teatru Manoel this November.

A tragic drama set in Jerusalem during biblical times, Salomé depicts the attempted seduction of St John the Baptist (known as Jokanaan in the play) by Salomé, the stepdaughter of King Herod.

The play follows Salomé’s obsession with Jokanaan, leading to a shocking conclusion.

The play has a pretty controversial history.

Penned by Oscar Wilde in 1892, Britain’s Lord Chamberlain banned it while rehearsals were taking place due to a law prohibiting biblical characters on stage.

Its first production was in Paris four years later and it only premiered in London in 1931.

The Teatru Manoel version will be directed by local theatre producer Adrian Buckle and feature British actor Timothy Blore as Salomé.

This follows a number of experimental stagings of Salomé, which cast a male actor in the female title role.

Romualdo Moretti is in charge of the set design, Aleksandra Idowiak of the costume design, and Chakib Zidi of the movement direction.

Salomé will be shown at Teatru Manoel from 6th to 15th November.