Women of Troy brings a powerful story of survival to Loft Theatre in Leamington
Written and directed by David Fletcher, this new version of Euripides' Greek tragedy explores the devastating human cost of war and the experiences of women caught in its wake
It is the morning after the fall of Troy. All the Trojan men have been killed, but the women don’t yet know their fates – each woman is waiting to hear which Greek leader will be their new master as they grapple with grief and loss. By the end of the story, the women have been taken to the ships, and their city is in flames.
The dramatic, powerful tragedy Women of Troy was written some 2,400 years ago, but its themes will be familiar to many today, not least in its vivid depiction the fallout of the violence of war and in particular the effect it has on the lives of women. Just a few years after the play was written, the historian Thucydides wrote “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must”.
This new version is written and directed by David Fletcher. He said: “For centuries, Greek drama has fascinated audiences and actors.
“These plays may have been written over 2,000 years ago, but they still speak to us today on some of the fundamental issues of our time. They bring a searing focus on the human condition – on the powerful and, in the case of Women of Troy, on the powerless. We have seen this recently in Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey – this play is its prequel!”
The play runs from Wednesday October 28 to Saturday November 7. Tickets are priced from £17 to £20. Free tickets for theatregoers aged 16 to 25 are available by advance email booking or on the night from the box office (proof of age required). See www.lofttheatrecompany.com, email [email protected] or call 01926 830 680to book.
Looking ahead at Loft Theatre: The Night Alive, by Conor McPherson: 22nd - 12th December Blackbird, by David Harrower: 20th - 30th January 2027 Fantastic Mr Fox, by By Roald Dahl, Adapted for the stage by David Wood: 24th February - 6th March 2027