It’s the same old story, bored, beautiful young wife of grizzly warrior King Menalaus, Spartan by birth, Spartan by nature, elopes with Adonian handsome Trojan prince, envoy, Paris. Thus ensues the launching of the legendary ’thousand ships’ argosy which drops off at the Peloponnese to pick up brother Agamemnon who is always up for a fight.
He, incidentally, takes his youngest daughter, Iphigenia, along whom he lures on the pretext of a promised marriage to some whacking thighed warrior. However, the Gods demand a sacrifice to ensure victory over Troy and he subsequently kills her in her bridal gown.
If you think the ‘Red Wedding’ scene in Game Of Thrones was grim, stand by for some serious action.
Welcome to Chris Hannan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic tale of heroism, jealousy, greed, betrayal and catastrophic hubris. Remind yourselves as to where the phrases ‘Achilles’s heel’ and ‘Trojan Horse’ originated.
Try to forget Brad Pitt in those hugging tight leather kilts on the batllefield of the Ilium Plain. The promise of an evening of lavish myth brought to life and most certainly death is the swan-song for departing Artistic Director, Mark Thomson after his thirteen year tenure.
The Iliad will run from 20 April to 14 May.
The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Grindlay Street, EH3 9AX
