Oedipus Rex 2020
Oedipus Rex 2020 Performance
WARWICK ANCIENT DRAMA FESTIVAL
SOPHOCLES’ OEDIPUS REX, 30-31 JANUARY 2020
GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY THE BRITISH ACADEMY
Following the success of the 2018 and 2019 Ancient drama festivals, in January 2020 the Warwick Classics Department and Classics Society presented Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, translated by Ian Johnston and directed by Max Stapleton.
Set in 1928, this musical production gives the famous play a city-noir twist. The arrogant West, fuelled by its industry, courses towards the Great Depression, themes reflected in Oedipus’ relationship with his own fate. Oedipus, King of Thebes, searches for the murderer of his predecessor, Laius. His city has become diseased and impoverished, destined to remain as such until the killer is revealed. The investigation draws Oedipus towards a prophecy he has always dreaded. As the day darkens, fate begins to spiral out of his control.
Supporting the performance, the Department offered a series of lectures, discussions and seminars for school students and general audiences. These included:
- Professor Eric Csapo (British Academy Global Professor of Classics at Warwick) ‘The myth of Oedipus: textual, visual and material representations’
- Professor Oliver Taplin (Emeritus Professor of Classics, Oxford) in discussion with Dr Emmanuela Bakola on ‘Themes in Sophocles’ Oedipus: Translation and performance’
- Professor Michael Scott (Professor of Classics at Warwick) on ‘The historical context of Oedipus King’
- Dr Emmanuela Bakola (Associate Professor of Ancient Greek Language and Literature, Warwick), on ‘The house, the mountain, the hero, fate and responsibility: a performance analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus King’
- Dr David Fearn (Reader in Greek Language and Literature, Warwick) on ‘The Sophoclean hero and the chorus’ (seminar)
- Mr Kirk Hastings (Music composer and Choir leader), Participatory workshop based on the choral songs & music composition of Oedipus King.
