The rage, temper and insult of the dialogue between. Aeschylus ii contains the oresteia, translated by richmond lattimore, and fragments of proteus, translated by mark griffith. Magnificent and thrilling as was lia williams performance, you. The cast epitomised by the terrific lia williams as a cool but never remote klytemnestra get the pitch just about right. Oresteia is an object lesson in merciless ambivalence. Klytemnestra lia williams, never more judicial or lacerating even admits that a part of her admires her husbands resolve. The table at which agamemnon angus wright and his family sit could well be used for surgery. Unavoidable tragedy in the oresteia the new criterion. Rising star, alex lawther, will head the cast of hamlet as the brooding protagonist and lia williams returns to oresteia in her olivier nominated role as klytemnestra. In the heyday of athenian tragedy and aeschyluss work is definitely from the heyday all three parts of a trilogy would be performed backtoback. The awards were established as the society of west end theatre awards in 1976 and renamed in 1984 in honour of english actor lord olivier the award has been known by its current name of best actress since 1993.
I was quite drunk the first time i ever encountered the oresteia. Each night, the fate of mary stuart and elizabeth rests on a single coin toss. Juliet stevenson and lia williams to engage in nightly. Aeschylus, the earliest of the great attic tragedians, presented his oresteia at athens city dionysia festival in 458 bce. The prime of miss jean brodie opening night youtube. Its enough to make even the most culturehungry theatre fan yawn. His romeo and juliet, created for touring troupe headlong in 2012, boldly gave the play the sliding doors treatment, full. The debate in the oresteia reflects a system that was extant in aeschyluss time. It is his last work and the only complete trilogy of greek dramas that has survived. Posts about lia williams written by oresteia, almeida, 8 july 2015 matinee. Online book oresteia by aeschylus pdf link finder prewiew. We spoke with lia williams, rona morison and more at the opening night of the prime of miss jean brodie at the donmar warehouse. Oresteia 2015 west end tickets, news, info, photos, videos. For i have come back home, returned to this land of mine.
Nov 11, 2019 lia williams will return to the production as the enthralling klytemnestra, for which she was nominated for an olivier award for best actress. Oresteia, almeida theatre lia williams stands firm on the bones of aeschylus in uncertain makeover. The latter two plays were directed, as is this, by british theatres most exciting and occasionally frustrating talent robert icke, who offers here a fluid and thrilling moderndress adaptation of the schiller classic for juliet stevenson and lia williams to get their teeth into. Lia williams reveals all on that disturbing bathroom. The first play, agamemnon, portrays the victorious. And rob tunes into what the actor is doing, so in such a fine way, that it becomes this invisible line between sound and rob and us. Lia williams stars in robert ickes adaptation of the greek tragedy. Introductory note at the beginning of the fifth century, it was customary for each of the tragedians who were competing at the festival of dionysus to present a trilogy of three plays on a related theme, followed by a satyrplay. Lia williams, annie fairbank and jessica brown findlay in oresteia.
Lia williams reveals all on that disturbing bathroom scene following fan outcry kiri actress lia williams has come clean about one moment from the show that left viewers skin crawling. Robert ickes bold and witty new version of oresteia whets the appetite. This translation by ian johnston professor emeritus at vancouver island university has oresteia by aeschylus synopsis the oresteia by aeschylus summary oresteia aeschylus text the oresteia by aeschylus online download the oresteia performance by aeschylus narrated by full cast. Schillers political tragedy takes us behind the scenes of some of british historys most crucial days. Lia williams at the after party of the broadway opening night of arcadia in new york. Those of us who have seen peter meinecks performances have long marveled at his ability to turn greek into clear english, how he does not do versions of the plays, how. Sophocles theban trilogy consists of three plays that were actually written many years apart and never performed together during the. A huge, moving, bloody saga, the original of all family dramas, aeschylus. In this greek season, the two most memorable performances are by lia williams as klytemnestra and kate fleetwood, who is mr goolds wife, as medea. A magnificent lia williamsickes exhilarating adaptation is in part a demolitionit dispenses with stage conventions. As klytemnestra in robert ickes oresteia williams she was nominated for both olivier. Read on for reasons including why williams performance is the best by any actress this year. The oresteia tells the story of the house of atreus. Oresteia, directed by robert icke and designed by hildegard bechtler, features lia williams as klytemnestra, angus wright as agamemnon and aegisthus, luke thompson as orestes and jessica brown findlay as elektra.
Oresteia starring lia williams and jessica brown findlay at the trafalgar studios. Jan 15, 2009 agamemnon libation bearers eumenides aeschylus oresteia is the only trilogy to survive from greek tragedy, and the religious and moral ideas it enacts afterwards influenced a great dramatic genre, as well as giving its three plays their lasting significance. It tells the tragic tale of the house of atreus, whose inhabitants have been cursed and are doomed to play out their bloody, vengeful destinies. Lia williams will return to the production as klytemnestra, for which she was nominated for an olivier award for best actress, as. The latest high profile transfer to emerge from the almeida theatre takes the form of oresteia, which is set to hit the stage of whitehalls trafalgar studios 1 this august. Anecdotally here at the almeida, before the oresteia transferred to the west end it was a much. As the husbandslayer clytemnestra, a magnificent lia williams moves catlike from entire poise to. Lia williams, as klytemnestra, and angus wright, as agamemnon, in oresteia at the almeida theatre photo. They were seeking revenge on paris, a prince of troy, for his having kidnapped helen, the beautiful wife of menelaus, another kinggeneral. Born in the last quarter of the sixth century, aeschylus had fought with the victorious greeks in one and probably both of the persian wars 190 and 48079. As the husbandslayer clytemnestra, a magnificent lia williams moves catlike from entire poise to unleash a mandrake scream.
The almeidas enthralling oresteia is singled out by lyn gardner who, in no set order, chooses her other essential productions of the year. Orestes lives an exile from his fortune and his place, while they in arrogance. Both juliet and lia played alternated the roles of the two queens depending on who called heads or tails. The distinguished company presents a new version of this epic revenge tragedy that is contemporary and exhilarating. Lia williams will return to the production as the enthralling klytemnestra, for which she was nominated for an olivier award for best actress. Robert icke practitioners voices in classical reception studies. Events come and go like waves of a fever, leaving us confused and uncertain. His oresteia is an object lesson in merciless ambivalence. The acclaimed show transfers from the almeida theatre in islington in august. Playing both elizabeth i and mary stuart, juliet stevenson hamlet and lia williams oresteia trade the plays central roles, decided at each performance by the toss of a coin.
One approach is to embrace the offbeat humour, making the play surprisingly funny, with both owen and williams excelling here. In the oresteia aeschylus addressed the bloody chain of murder and revenge within the royal family of argos. British director and actress, lia williams relishing. Press responses almeida and west end 2015 aeschylus in a new adaptation created by robert icke. The awards were established as the society of west end theatre awards in 1976 and renamed in 1984 in honour of english actor lord olivier. Hot bikini body and hairstyle pics on newest tv shows movies. The almeida theatres greek season gets under way with robert ickes adaptation of aeschylus oresteia. Following mr burns and 1984, almeida associate director robert icke radically reimagines oresteia for the modern stage, in its first major london production in more than a decade.
Played anna in mappa mundi, a play by shelagh stephenson royal national theater. Since small theatres like the almeida cannot pay well, actors choose the work over the money. Magnificent and thrilling as was lia williams performance, you cant slant it all in favour of clytemnestra. Sunday times maxie szalwinska the director robert icke performs revelatory surgery on aeschylus epic revenge trilogy.
In other words, elektra and orestes, like jeremy corbyn, say, not in my name to athens neocon militaryindustrial complex. Oresteia almeida theatre lia williams almeida greeks. Lia williams reprises her role as the vengeful klytemnestra in the almeida theatre production of oresteia as it transfers to the trafalgar studios a family drama about sparring parents that asks whether justice can ever be done, aeschylus greatest and final play continues to resonate more than two millennia after it. Lia williams performance as klytemnestra is craftily nuanced. Part 1 is called agamemnon, and part 3 is called eumenides.
The laurence olivier award for best actress in a play is an annual award presented by the society of london theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial british theatre. The oresteia is the only ancient greek trilogy to survive. The park avenue armory conservancy is a notforprofit organization dedicated to restoring the park avenue armory and bringing it back to life as a dynamic center for the visual and performing arts, following a model of adaptive reuse for artistic uses found. The house that the king and klytemnestra lia williams live in is as dead as they will be. Peter meinecks new rendition of the oresteia is that rare and wonderful thing. The latest high profile transfer to emerge from the almeida theatre takes the form of oresteia, which is set to hit the stage of whitehalls trafalgar studios 1.
The genius and strength of the creative team aside, ickes production owes a lot to the quality of his actors. A pdf copy of this interview is available for download. Lia williams 26 november 1964 is an english actress and director, known for stage, film, and. Theatheniandrama aseriesofversetranslationsfromthegreekdramatic poets,withcommentariesandexplanatory essays,forenglishreaders editedby georgec. A journal entry provides a chance for you to reflect on and record your thoughts on a certain topic, in this case, a piece of literature.
The first play in aeschylus trilogy, orestia, and arguably the most famous of the three. For as things are we are as purchased slaves and exiles because of our mother, who turned you her husband over for aegisthus, the man who shared in the guilt of your death. Robert ickes oresteia and hamlet to be revived in repertory in new york lia williams in oresteia at the almeida in 2015. Oresteia transfers direct from its critically acclaimed run at the almeida to the west ends trafalgar studios. The advantage of being able to perform in all three plays in the one performance is that each actor is able to scale the heights aeschylus intended. The oresteia is a trilogy by aeschylus, one of the foremost. For his production of oresteia, he became the youngest winner of the olivier award for best director and also won the best director prize at both the critics circle and evening standard theatre awards. Controlling some of the playwrights often inspired flights of fancy means plenty of credit for director james macdonald. It was a response to the capture of the city by the persians the previous year, and, herodotus tells us, the audience burst into tears and fined him a thousand drachmas for reminding them of. Each exhibits an emotional range that holds the action together. Now lia williams and downtons tragic rebel, lady sybil, aka jessica brown findlay are among the cast taking on aeschylus oresteia at the almeida, the first in a greek season that will see euripides bakkai and medea staged later in the year.
Star lia williams last two plays oresteia and mary stuart transferred into the west end from their runs at the almeida and it would not surprise us in the least if that feat was repeated here. Lia williams stars as klytemnestra in robert ickes modern reimagining of oresteia at the almeida theatre spanning multiple decades, aeschylus greatest and final play brings a family drama about sparring parents to the islington venues stage, asking whether justice can ever be done. A huge, moving, bloody family drama spanning several decades, aeschylus greatest and final play asks whether justice can ever be done and it continues to resonate more than two millennia after it was written. From these observations it may appear as though i was very much engaged with the whole thing, but oresteia stumbles in crucial areas. Aeschyluss oresteia in repertory, reexamining two classics through the use of cuttingedge digital media to accentuate themes of surveillance, justice, and retribution.
Lia williams, who will play clytemnestra at the almeida, london. Humans that governs the whole universe lloydjones 80. Lia williams at the photocall of the broadway arcadia in new york. A huge, moving, bloody saga, the original of all family dramas, aeschylus greatest and final play asks whether justice. As they move from darkness to light, from rage to selfgovernance, from primitive ritual to civilized institution, their spirit of struggle and regeneration becomes an everlasting song of celebration. Oct 19, 2015 lia williamss clytemnestra is a mediafriendly spouse. Rising star, alex lawther, will head the cast of hamlet as the brooding protagonist and lia williams returns to oresteia in her olivier nominated. Jessica brown findlay electra and luke thompson orestes in oresteia. Also when you announce lia williams who played klytemnestra in things, the theatre.
Lia williams, tom riley and bel powley at the after party of the broadway opening night of arcadia in new york. Lia williams will reprise her olivier awardnominated turn as klytemnestra in oresteia, adapted by mr. Libation bearers is the second play in a trilogy of tragedies by aeschylus entitled the oresteia. Jones world premiere, double bill of robert ickes hamlet and oresteia, more set for new park avenue armory season. Lia williams stands firm on the bones of aeschylus in uncertain makeover. The almeida theatres acclaimed production of robert icke. Notes on the oresteia robin vanbesien increasingly, we live in a world where nothing makes any sense. It is the first in a series of greek plays at the almeida in 2015. Lia williams returns to the almeida as klytemnestra.
For this assignment, you will not write a short essay, but a journal entry. In 493 bc the greek tragedian phrynichus produced the fall of miletus at the theatre of dionysus. Lia williams in oresteia at the almeida share on twitter opens new window. From their marriage, they share a son name, josh williams. Lia williams as clytemnestra with eve benioff salama as iphigenia and ilan galkoff as the young orestes picture. Lia williams and angus wright in oresteia by aeschylus at the almeida. Oresteia, trilogy of tragic dramas by the ancient greek dramatist aeschylus, first performed in 458 bce. Lia williams 26 november 1964 is an english actress and director, known for stage, film, and television appearances.
To read greek tragedy, as any text, is to immerse oneself in the culture of a particular. British television actress and director, lia williams is a married woman. The oresteia is set several years after the trojan war, in which agamemnon, the king of mycenae and a general in the greek army, fought alongside other greek kingsgenerals to destroy the city of troy. A false oresteia is one like robert ickes at the almeida, now transferred to the trafalgar studios rejecting any attempt to translate aeschylus tough, dynamic language and setting itself an extra problem in its contemporary setting by starting with the sacrifice of iphigenia. The only trilogy in greek drama that survives from antiquity, aeschylus the oresteia is translated by robert fagles with an introduction, notes and glossary written in collaboration with w. Im afraid im less convinced by his radical new version of the oresteia. Sixty years ago, the university of chicago press undertook a momentous project. Feb 12, 2016 s ay what you like about his productions, but robert icke has some nerve.
The almeida theatre is taking the greeks out of the attic and this ambitious new season begins with an epic, three hour and forty minute adaptation of aeschylus oresteia. Her husband, guy hibbert is also a hollywood offscreen personality known for his works as screenwriter. The armory will present these works in repertory for 11 weeks, performed by a single british company. Full text of aeschylusdavidgreneandrichmondlattimore. The oresteia is a trilogy by aeschylus, one of the foremost playwrights of ancient greece. The libation bearers page 3 orestes lord hermes, guide to the dead and guardian of my fathers realm be now my safeguard and companion in answer to my prayers. As a father i found electras mourning profoundly moving. Awardwinning actresses juliet stevenson and lia williams are set to engage in a nightly battle to determine who will rule the realm. Agamemnon is a domestic tragedy, telling the story of the murder of agamemnon, king of.