The Department of Theatre Presents: Oresteia

by Robert Icke

Directed by Leslie Baker

Robert Icke’s daring, freely-adapted version of Aeschylus’s ancient Oresteia trilogy explores familial violence, trauma, and war.

Set amongst a fractious family dinner table, meetings with psychologists, and a contemporary examination of the notion of Gods: Icke presents the mental anguish of a divided leader, Agamemnon; his daughter Iphigenia, who is sacrificed by her father; a visceral and vengeful Klytemnestra; a fierce Electra hungering to avenge her father’s death; and an Orestes technically freed, but haunted by moral guilt.

This witty and ingenious text is Aeschylus for our time, that expresses the circular futility of revenge, and leaves us to draw our own conclusions about the shaky premises on which political leaders go to war.

Robert Icke is a writer and theatre director who has been referred to as the "great hope of British theatre."

Apr. 9 - 12, 2025

Apr. 9 at 8pm (preview)

Apr. 10 at 8pm

Apr. 11 at 2pm and 8pm

Apr. 12 at 2pm