A famous Greek tragedy was given a modern urban setting for a triumphant performance by Loughborough College actors this week.
Audiences saw the shocking action of Agamemnon, written more than two and a half thousand years ago and originally set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, play out amongst the communities of a housing estate in 21st century Britain.
The sense of impending doom grew as Performing Arts students depicted the king of Athens, Agamemnon, returning home to his wife Clytemnestra after many years of war – years she has been using to plot revenge upon her husband for the murder of their daughter.
“We decided to shift the setting from a togas and sandals setting because although the play was written thousands of years ago the themes and what happens in the relationships between these characters is just as relevant today.
“There was grime music and a soundtrack of riots as a backdrop to city tower blocks and two rival factions dressed in street clothes. The chorus was like a squad or a crew and the play’s most disturbing scene comes to the audience via the actors’ mobile phones,” said Emma Ledsam, creative arts lead at Loughborough College.
“This is the first play in a trilogy but as we have already performed the other two - Iphigenia at Aulis and Trojan Women - so this was a bit of Star Wars situation, this was like a prequel.
“There were two performances and both were astonishing. The students communicated a complex story but kept it compelling. It is the best work I have seen these young actors produce.
“There was so much energy and they really sustained the level of tension, it was incredibly exciting – there were moments on the stage that absolutely crackled. The audience loved it. The entire cast smashed it and we are all very proud of them.”