Opening July 26, director Robert Icke's take on Aeschylus' Oresteia continues performances at Off-Broadway's Park Avenue Armory in repertory with the director's Hamlet. The show began previews July 13 and will run through August 13.
The Oresteia follows the Atreides Curse, beginning with the murder of Agamemnon, the King of Mycenae who has returned from the Trojan War, by his wife Klytemnestra as revenge for sacrificing their eldest daughter to the Artemis as penitence for offending the goddess, among other desires. Years later, Agamemnon and Klytemnestra's son returns to kill his mother in retribution for the murder of his father. Oresteia follows the family's destruction through the trial of Orestes, and the end of Atreides Curse.
Starring as Klytemnestra is Olivier nominee Anastasia Hille, joined by Angus Wright as Agamemnon/Aegisthus along with Luke Treadaway as Orestes, Kirsty Rider as Doctor, Peter Wright as Menelaus, Joshua Higgott as Talthybius, Tia Bannon as Electra, and Michael Abubakar as Calchas. David Rintoul, Hara Yannas, Gilbert Kyem Jr., Ross Waiton, and Marty Cruikshank complete the cast.
The creative team behind the productions features director Icke, set and costume designer Hildegard Bechtler, lighting designer Natasha Chivers, and sound designer Tom Gibbons. Video is by Tal Yarden. Icke's interpretations of Hamlet and Oresteia both made their world premieres at London's Almeida Theatre. Wright, Higgott, and Yannas return to Oresteia after having previously starred in the original Almeida Theatre production.
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"Icke’s directorial approach recontextualizes and democratizes classic texts that are often seen as inaccessible," says Armory Marina Kellen French Artistic Director Pierre Audi in a statement, "catapulting them into the modern world and upholding their relevance." Using video elements and stage design to look at the psychological impacts of grief and retribution, the two productions will alternate evenings.
Lia Williams was originally cast as Klytemnestra, but departed the production due to injury.
For tickets and more information, visit ArmoryOnPark.org.
