Medea
MEDEA is one of those plays that Ive been itching to direct for ages. The story is so exciting, so filled with passion, terror and emotion that it seems to scream off the page and force itself onto stage. Im lucky to have a stunning cast and crew to help me do it justice!
"Medea" tells an ancient and horrific tale with startling immediacy. As the play opens we are instantly pitched into the midst of a family in crisis. To her mistresss screams of anguish offstage, Medeas nurse quickly fills in the storys background. Jason, hero of the Argonauts and the quest for the golden fleece has abandoned Medea and their two sons and plans to marry the daughter of Creon, King of Corinth where the family have taken refuge. From this dramatic opening unfolds a story of assured clarity and emotional complexity that make it astonishingly modern. As the women of Corinth plead with Medea for calm she finds herself increasingly isolated as both Creon and Jason savagely banish her from Corinth. Fortunately, she manages to persuade Aegeus, King of Athens to give her sanctuary. Before leaving, however, she plans a brutal revenge on the man who has destroyed her happiness. She uses witchcraft to slaughter Creon and his daughter in an horrific fashion before murdering her own sons to ensure Jasons misery is total.
There is so much packed into the plays short running time that an audience cannot help but feel dragged through an emotional hedge that leaves them breathless. Helen Chadney and Liam Campbell play Medea and Jason and the cast really does not have a weak link. Mike Elliott lights a stunning set by Stuart Draper and classically elegant costumes by Alan Buckman. This production really shouldnt be missed!
Matt Bartlett, director
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