Aeschylus’ The Suppliant Women, is on now at The Royal Exchange and runs until the beginning of April. The story centres on 50 women from North Africa who leave everything behind to board a boat and flee across the Mediterranean. Their aim is to escape forced marriages in their homeland, and are seeking asylum in Greece. It may sound like something ripped from the headlines, but the play was actually written 2500 years ago by Aeschylus, and is one of the world’s oldest surviving dramas. This acclaimed new interpretation by David Greig was first performed in Edinburgh, and has been tailored to the RX’s stage in the round. The leader of the refugees is played by Gemma May Rees, and the chorus is performed by young women from the local community.
Until Sat 1 Apr, The Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, M2 7DH. Tel: 0161 833 9833, times vary, from £16.50, www.royalexchange.co.uk
- Words:
- A. James Simpkin
- Published on:
- Thu 23 Mar 2017
