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."

This production of Oresteia contains themes of death, violence, psychological trauma and the consequences of cyclical violence. Depicted on stage are staged acts of physical violence between family members including murders by stabbing and murder by medication. This production uses fake knives as weapons and fake blood. There is brief mentions of suicide by hanging but no depiction. We would like to remind students that Concordia offers wonderful mental health services should you need it. 

Apr. 9 - 12, 2025

Wednesday, April 9 at 7:30pm (Preview)

Thursday, April 10 at 7:30pm (Opening)

Friday, April 11 at 7:30pm

Saturday, April 12 at 1:30pm & 7:30pm