THE SUPPLIANT WOMEN
BY AESCHYLUS IN A NEW VERSION BY DAVID GREIG
10 MARCH 2017 - 1 APRIL 2017
Royal Exchange Theatre
Manchester
Clearly I was not a suppliant woman but I did appear in 24 out of 26 performances of The Suppliant Women as a member of one of the three community choruses - as a citizen of Argos. The other choruses being the titular suppliant women and the soldiers of Greece/Egypt (as required).
Considering my only previous experience of a professional theatre production was as a citizen of Argos in Aeschylus's The Oresteia (at HOME, Manchester in 2015) I can now reasonably claim to be a specialist in Classical Greek theatre, being a Citizen of Argos (Argive), and the works of Aeschylus.
But this has been entirely unexpected and coincidental. When I took part in The Oresteia I considered it a rare opportunity to be in a professional production never to be repeated. Less than two years later, I was doing it again. And singing this time.
I should have learned by now that one thing leads to another. That since my first almost-accidental appearance as a volunteer in a piece of performance art - Jeremy Deller's Procession at MIF09 each subsequent thing has represented an accumulation of experience and personal ambition - a constant desire to push myself further and not to allow myself to be ruled by fear and self-doubt.
Typically, being in the theatre was not part of a plan and has - due to the time commitment - removed me briefly from thinking about or having time to make my own work, take part in other projects (of arguably less interest), and from reviewing and seeing my beloved dance. But it is hugely enjoyable, fun, challenging, exciting and interesting - and on a scale that is very appealing.
And I plan to do it again.
Later this year.
But not playing a citizen of Argos in an ancient Greek work by Aeschylus.
(Never say never, though, eh?)
Reviews
The Suppliant Women - The Arts Shelf ****
The Suppliant Women - British Theatre Guide
The Suppliant Women - Canal St 4/5
The Suppliant Women - Manchester Theatre Awards
The Suppliant Women - Mancunian Matters
The Suppliant Women - Postcards from the Gods
The Suppliant Women - The Reviews Hub ****
Hammers on the door of our hearts with power and conviction - The Suppliant Women, Royal Exchange, Manchester - The Telegraph ****