Past Performances

Listings and Reviews of Performances from 1 January 2006

The Bacchae of Bagdad by Conall Morrison
From 4th March 2006, Abbey Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
A new version of Euripides’ The Bacchae
Box Office + 353 ( 01) 87 87 222

Press Release: "When the charismatic eastern god Dionysus arrives with the Bacchae, his horde of female disciples, he is viewed by the autocratic king, Pentheus, as a dangerous ‘other’ – an unknown and barbaric threat. The clash that ensues between these two potentates pits scepticism against piety, order against chaos, austerity against excess. Relishing both the moral complexity and theatricality of the piece, Morrison mounts a whirlwind production that spins debate, dance, song and spectacle."

Electra by Sophocles
11th - 14th May, 2006 (Thurs - Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2pm)
Anderson Theatre, Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Directed by Rob Gardner, new translation by Eric Dugdale
Box Office: (507) 933-7590
Website: http://www.gustavus.edu/oncampus/academics/theatre-dance/season.cfm

Sophocles' Electra will be running at the Anderson Theatre of Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota. The show is directed by Rob Gardner (Chair of the Theatre Department) and uses a new translation by Eric Dugdale (Classics Department). Original music by Mike Croswell and choreography by Maria Gomez Tierney add to a visually powerful production that seeks to engage its modern audience. Information and tickets available through the Gustavus Ticket Center, (507) 933-7590. A lecture by James Morwood (Wadham College, Oxford) and an alumni reunion accompany the show.

The Aristophanes Birds Project by Spiral
17th July - 5th August, 2006 (Performances are held on 4th, 5th, 6th August)
La Rioja, Spain
Directed by Chris Baldwin
Website: www.tallerspiral.com

In July and August 2006, the company Sprial will produce a devised multilingual version of Aristophanes Birds with performers and students from various countries and cultures. This project builds on the success of The Frogs performed in 2005 in Inestrillas, La Rioja involving performers from six countries world wide. The schedule is as follows:

Week One : 17th - 22nd July
This week is dedicated to exploring site specific design and giant puppet making lead by Tina Bicat and Chris Baldwin. Afternoons are dedicated to an exploration of The Birds text together with drama and Spanish language workshops. A design led outdoor performance will occur at the end of this week.

Week Two: 24th - 29th July
This week focuses on music, instrumentation, the body as musical instrument, music in site specific contexts and composition. Spiral Composer, and head of Music Theatre at Central School, Dr Paul Barker, will lead the week. Afternoons are dedicated to devising from The Birds text together with drama and Spanish language workshops. A music outdoor performance will occur at the end of this week.

Week Three: 31st July - 5th August
This week, led by director Chris Baldwin (Visiting professor at Rose Bruford College) will shape the performance and lead to three nights of open air performances.

Swallow Song
17th - 18th November, 2006 (Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm)
Oxford Playhouse, Oxford OX1 2LW
Website: www.oxfordplayhouse.com
Directed by Lydia Koniordou
Box office: 01865 305305

21st - 22nd November, 2006 (8pm)
Cochrane Theatre, Holborn, London WC1
Website: www.cochranetheatre.co.uk
Box office: 020 7269 1606

The Onassis Programme presents the UK Premiere of Swallow Song. Drawing on Greek tragedy, lyric poetry, folk songs and music, Swallow Song explores growing up and coming of age in Ancient Greece: the innocence and harsh experiences of a childhood spent amidst the wars and struggles of adults. Highlights include translated verses from Ion, Trojan Women and Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides, poetry by Sappho and Oedipus by Sophocles.

Swallow Song is adapted, directed by, and stars Lyrida Koniordou, long considered to be the finest classical Greek actress of her generation. Costume and set design are by the internationally renowned Dionysis Fotopoulos, with translation by Oliver Taplin. A stunning original score by Takis Farazis completes an evening of music, theatre and dance. Six Greek principals and three musicians are joined on stage by a chorus of emerging young English actors.

For more information visit www.onassis.ox.ac.uk. Discounts for students and school groups.