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Overview

Synopsis

Christopher Marlowe’s 1588 play Tamburlaine the Great Part I was so popular among London audiences that Marlowe wrote a sequel to continue the conqueror's grisly exploits. The second part takes place several years after the events of the first part, and primarily concerns Tamburlaine’s assault on the kingdoms of Mesopotamia: Trebizond, Soria, Jerusalem, and Amasia. While on the war-path, Tamburlaine’s beloved queen Zenocrate succumbs to illness, and her death spurs Tamburlaine on to even greater acts of savagery. Meanwhile, Callapine, the son of slain Turkish Emperor Bajazeth, has sworn revenge on the conqueror, and is gathering an army of tributary kings to help him in his vendetta.

The Tamburlaine plays were loosely based on the historical conquests of Timur in the 14th Century, events which Marlowe likely would have learned about during his studies in Cambridge. The play is considered by scholars to be one of the first truly popular pieces of English language theatre, and Marlowe’s use of verse defined the genre for the next century.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1590
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Asia and Europe, Renaissance
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Diverse Cast, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen, Early Teen, Mature Adult Characters

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Tamburlaine

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Zenocrate

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Theridamas

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Usumcasane

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Techelles

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Orcanes

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Gazellus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Sigismund

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Callapine

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Uribassa

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Frederick

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Baldwin

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Almeda

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Celebinus

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Calyphas

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Amyras

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Kings of Mesopotamia (4)

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Captain of Balsera

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Olympia

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Son of the Captain of Balsera

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Perdicas

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Governor of Babylon

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Maximus/Philemus/Messenger/Citizen

Ensemble

Either Gender

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

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Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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