Oresteia, theatre review: A fresh face for Greek tragedy

Robert Icke's outstanding modern update of this trilogy of plays, which premiered in Athens in 458BC, is slickly compelling viewing, says Fiona Mounford
A tremendous achievement: this is Greek drama humanised and modernised
Alistair Muir
Fiona Mountford9 September 2015

It says a lot about the robust good health of London theatre that an uncompromising trilogy of plays, which premiered in Athens in 458BC and chews vigorously upon on the meaning and nature of justice, has achieved a West End transfer from the Almeida. Aeschylus’s Oresteia might be the cornerstone of Western drama, but it’s not an easy ask. However in adaptor/director Robert Icke’s outstanding modern updating, which achieves the hurtling momentum of the best box-sets, it’s slickly compelling viewing.

Icke has done away with the too-often alienating chorus – hooray – but describes his fluid acting ensemble as a ‘chorus’ of ten. He has also, very sensibly, repointed the first play to allow full coverage of the event that motors this definitive family tragedy: Agamemnon’s sacrifice of his young daughter Iphigenia in order to gain favour for the beleaguered Greek army he commands in the never-ending Trojan War. From this fraught decision spring years of suffering and revenge.

There’s not the space, alas, to detail all of Icke’s subtle touches; suffice to say there’s a firm sense throughout the three and a half hour running time (stringently and amusingly policed by one of the characters) of a man in full and joyous command of his complex material. As there must be, there are notable performances all along. Lia Williams makes Klytemnestra a pragmatic, passionate wife and mother and there’s a notable stage debut from Jessica Brown Findlay, who brings to the role of Electra all the mischievous energy that she displayed as Lady Sybil in Downton Abbey.

Best of all, though, is the velvet-voiced Angus Wright as Agamemnon, a man of upright military mien suddenly wracked with anguish when faced with an impossible choice. This is Greek drama humanised and modernised and it’s a tremendous achievement.

Until Nov 7 (0844 871 7632)

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