by Jean Racine, in a new version by Ted Hughes
Star Theatres, 145 Sir Donald Bradman Dr, Hilton
November 28,29; December 4,5,6 @7.30
Matinees Sunday Nov 30 @ 4.00;
Saturday Dec 6 @ 2.00
Early Tuesday Dec 2 & Wednesday Dec 3 @ 6.30
Ancient Greece. The Age of Heroes, Gods and Monsters.
Theseus, King of Athens, and legendary slayer of the Minotaur, has married the Cretan princess, Phèdre. While Theseus is absent on one of his epic quests, Phèdre develops an obsessive, ravenous passion for her virtuous young stepson, Hippolytus. Believing Theseus to have died, Phèdre declares her illicit passion. Hippolytus' horrified rejection of her advances – and Theseus' return – unleash an avalanche of emotions, catapulting the palace into a chaos of guilt, jealousy, lies and monstrous revenge.
This epic legend has come down to us through ancient plays by Euripides and Seneca, as well as poems by Ovid and Virgil. Then, in 1677, France's greatest playwright, Jean Racine, produced his greatest play, Phèdre.
Callum Logan as Hippolytus and Lyn Wilson as Phèdre
Famed for its presentation of such classics of world theatre as Don Carlos and The Blood of Agamemnon, Independent Theatre is delighted to present Racine's 1677 masterpiece in a "sinewy, visceral", modern translation by former poet laureate, Ted Hughes.
With as many plot-twists and turns as the best modern thriller, Racine's incredible play hurtles to its climax with all the white-knuckle excitement of a roller-coaster.
A favourite of Sarah Bernhardt's, the role of Phèdre has been played, more recently, by Glenda Jackson, Diana Rigg and Helen Mirren.
Lyn Wilson plays Phèdre, and Callum Logan Hippolytus, in a magnificent cast comprising Stuart Pearce, Chris Bleby, Naomi Voortman, Mia Livingston-Pearce, Sophie Livingston-Pearce and Pippa Livingston.
Directed by
ROB CROSER