The Emperor Jones

Thea Sharrock directs The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill.

Paterson Joseph plays the title role.

Thea Sharrock's production for The Gate Theatre of O'Neill's controversial 1920 play was a theatrical highlight of 2005 and she now reconceives it for the Olivier, with Paterson Joseph reprising his critically acclaimed performance.

Southern American ex-convict, Brutus Jones, aided by his double- crossing British ally, Smithers, connives his way into an uncompromising dictatorship over a remote island in the West Indies. Faced with a terrifying people's revolt, the delusional Emperor escapes to the dark forest and a promise of salvation. But in the searing heat and to the ominous pulse of his trackers' drums, Jones is driven to make his way through every lead bullet in his gun, right down to the silver one he is saving for himself.