Ancient Greek tragedy gets modern political twist in London
Robert Ickes “Oedipus“ adaptation blends classic Greek drama with contemporary politics starring Mark Strong and Lesley Manville The play explores timeless themes of identity and truth-seeking‚ set against a backdrop of an election night campaign headquarters
In London‚ a fresh take on Sophocles ancient tragedy “Oedipus“ is making waves at Wyndhams Theatre. This modern adaptation‚ helmed by Robert Icke blends the timeless Greek drama with a contemporary political thriller setting
The play unfolds in a campaign headquarters on election night‚ with Mark Strong portraying Oedipus as a charismatic outsider politician on the brink of a historic win. Lesley Manville takes on the role of Jocasta his wife and political partner. The production draws parallels to well-known political couples and even touches on birther conspiracies reminiscent of those surrounding Barack Obama
Strong describes Oedipus tragic flaw as an “honesty fetish“ – an obsession with truth that ultimately leads to his downfall. The actor notes‚ “If he wasnt such a seeker after the truth none of the problems would happen“
The plays themes resonate strongly in todays world of ancestral DNA testing‚ where a simple saliva sample can reveal unexpected truths about ones origins. As Strong points out “Everybody wants to know where their place is in the world and who they are Maybe Im a Viking Who knows?“
Critics have praised the production‚ with The Guardian calling it “riveting from beginning to end“ The play runs until 01/04/2025‚ offering audiences a chance to experience this innovative blend of ancient wisdom and modern political intrigue
Everybody wants to know where their place is in the world and who they are
Icke‚ aged 37‚ is known for breathing new life into classics. His previous works include another Greek tragedy‚ “Oresteia‚“ and the Shakespeare adaptation “Player Kings“ starring Ian McKellen. The latter faced a setback when McKellen‚ 85‚ took a tumble offstage in June 2024‚ but the veteran actor hopes to return to his role as Falstaff
Both Strong and Manville bring impressive screen credentials to the stage. Strong has recently appeared in sci-fi action flicks “Atlas“ and “Dune-Prophecy‚“ while Manville received an Oscar nod in 2018 for “The Phantom Thread“ and an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Princess Margaret in “The Crown“
The production‚ originally slated for 2020 but delayed due to the pandemic‚ showcases the actors smoldering stage chemistry as a formidable political couple. Manville emphasizes the plays timeless nature‚ stating “Were the same beating hearts‚ got the same blood running through our veins“
