Greek (play)
| Greek | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Steven Berkoff |
| Date premiered | 11 February 1980 |
| Place premiered | Half Moon Theatre, London |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | London's East End |
Greek is a play by Steven Berkoff.
It was first performed at the Half Moon Theatre in London on 11 February 1980, in a production directed by the author. The cast was:
- Eddy & Fortune-teller: Barry Philips
- Dad & Manager of cafe: Matthew Scurfield
- Wife, Doreen & Waitress 1: Linda Marlowe
- Mum, Sphinx & Waitress 2: Janet Amsden
It is a retelling of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. Berkoff wrote:
"Greek came to me via Sophocles, trickling its way down the millenia until it reached the unimaginable wastelands of Tufnell Park ... In my eyes, Britain seemed to have become a gradually decaying island, preyed upon by the wandering hordes who saw no future for themselves in a society which had few ideals or messages to offer them." [1]
The play was used as the basis for a well-received opera of the same name composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage and first performed in 1988.[2]
References
- ^ Berkoff, Steven (1989) [1980], "Greek", Decadence and Other Plays, London: Faber and Faber, ISBN 0-571-14073-4
- ^ Ewans, Michael, Opera from the Greek: Studies in the poetics of appropriation, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2007, p. 183. ISBN 0-7546-6099-0
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