Sherman Cymru, Cardiff
Wed 18 Apr-Sat 5 May
A highly controversial character in Greek mythology, Clytemnestra is at once a wronged wife and victim, an adulteress, distraught mother and murderer. Married to Agamemnon, the sacker of Troy, legend has her killing him at the behest of her lover Aegisthus. Played by acclaimed actress Jaye Griffiths, Clytemnestra returns to the stage in a new adaptation by Sherman Cymru, directed by Amy Hodge.
Written by former National Poet of Wales, Gwyneth Lewis, and her first stage play, she admits “It has been a steep learning curve but I love theatre and doing this has been like retuning to an old friend.” No stranger to legends – having brought the Blodeuwedd Mabinogion myth to life in her novel The Meat Tree – Gwyneth is quite prepared to change things up for something new and different, explaining of Clytemnestra: “I didn’t want togas! I set the story in the future setting because I wanted to imagine an extreme situation which could be real.”
200 years from today oil has run out and wars are waged over food as human endurance is pushed to its limit by war and hunger – all the while Agamemnon gave his daughter Iphigenia in marriage to secure trade routes and in return they rape and kill her, leaving Agamemnon to return to Clytemnestra and remaining daughter Electra with Iphigenia’s ashes. As the legends over ruling themes of adultery, power and revenge abound, how far will this futuristic Clytemnestra go to for justice?
There is a creative task force behind this story: with Greek Designer takis (yes it is spelt without a capital letter), Composer Simon Thorne; Choreographer John Stjernholm and lighting designer Lee Curran all ready to ready to take its dangerous and hungry world to audiences. Framing the story with dramatic sound and movement it is a perfect story To create an explosive and imaginative setting.
Tickets £12-£25. Info: 029 2064 6900 / www.shermancymru.co.uk