BWW Reviews: ORESTEIA, Trafalgar Studios, September 7 2015

Following a successful sell-out run at the Almeida earlier this year, Robert Icke's reworking of Aeschylus's Oresteia has transferred to the West End, making its home at the Trafalgar Studios. Bringing the story into the 21st century, the production portrays Agamemnon (Angus Wright) as a modern day politician working hard to win the war while trying to maintain life as a family man.

With his wife Klytemnestra (Lia Williams) he has two young children, Iphigenia and Orestes (played on press night by Cleopatra Dickens and Matt Goldberg), and a teenage daughter Electra (Jessica Brown Findlay). The family seemingly have a normal life, with the adults playing with the children and the moody teenager who clearly loves her family dearly. However, when Agamemnon is pressured from his brother and advisors to follow through on a prophecy from God demanding that he must kill his daughter Iphigenia to win the war, he bows to pressure and eventually sacrifices her. The story is told from Orestes's point of view as he consults with a doctor who is assessing his mental health given the violence he has been witness to and has taken part in himself.

Live video feeds are projected behind the actors and on screens running along the walls of the theatre, something which may be familiar to those who saw Icke's recent production of 1984. Kyltemnestra portrays herself as a lonely wife, waiting for her husband to return from war and it is clear to the audience that this is a front and she is still mourning the death of her child at her husband's hand.

There are a number of foreboding incidents including Agamemnon knocking over a bottle of red wine at the dinner table, staining the white table cloth with a pool of the blood-coloured substance and Klytemnestra destroying her daughter's favourite toy rabbit which send chills down the audience members spines as they recognise the violence and destruction about to befall the family.

The violent and bloodthirsty story is heart-wrenching and is certainly an emotional rollercoaster, made all the more so by the fact that certain aspects of the play are extremely relatable; the family's evening routine will be one that many will recognise from their own homes. Although the running time of 3 hours and 30 minutes may dissuade some from booking tickets, the steady pace and never-ending drama makes the time fly by and I was consistently surprised when it was announced breaks were being taken. These are strictly regimented, with a countdown timer appearing over the stage and the play resumes on time.

Wright and Williams are passionate and heart-breaking in their roles as a husband and wife struggling to overcome the tragedy surrounding them. Jessica Brown Findlay and Luke Thompson are utterly mesmerising as the children seeking revenge on their mother for the family's downfall and death of their father. The chemistry between the cast is undeniable and their emotionally charged performances make Oresteia an unmissable production.

Photo Credit: Alastair Muir

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