''Greek'' is a verse

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * Pla ...

Steven Berkoff Steven Berkoff (born Leslie Steven Berks; 3 August 1937) is an English actor, author, playwright, theatre practitioner and theatre director. As a theatre maker he is recognised for staging work with a heightened performance style eponymously k ...

. It was first performed at The

Half Moon Theatre The Half Moon Theatre Company was formed in 1972 in a rented synagogue in Alie Street, Whitechapel, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. ''Half Moon Passage'' was the name of a nearby alley. The founders, Michael Irving and Maurice Colbourn ...

, London on 11 February 1980. It is a retelling of

Sophocles Sophocles (; grc, Σοφοκλῆς, , Sophoklễs; 497/6 – winter 406/5 BC)Sommerstein (2002), p. 41. is one of three ancient Greek tragedians, at least one of whose plays has survived in full. His first plays were written later than, or co ...

' ''

Oedipus Rex ''Oedipus Rex'', also known by its Greek title, ''Oedipus Tyrannus'' ( grc, Οἰδίπους Τύραννος, ), or ''Oedipus the King'', is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC. Originally, to the ancient Gr ...

''. Berkoff wrote:

"''Greek'' came to me via Sophocles, trickling its way down the millennia 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."

Notable productions

World premiere 11 February 1980 at the

, London.
Directed by Steven Berkoff. * Eddy & Fortune-teller - Barry Philips * Dad & Manager of cafe -

Matthew Scurfield Matthew Scurfield (born 2 February 1948, in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire) is an English actor and the eldest child of author George Scurfield and his wife Cecilia (née Hopkinson). His autobiography, ''I Could Be Anyone'', was published in 2008 ( ...

* Wife, Doreen & Waitress 1 -

Linda Marlowe Linda Virginia Marlowe (née Bathurst, born 26 July 1940) is an Australian-born British film, theatre, and television actress. She is noted for her association with Steven Berkoff, performing in many of his theatrical works, creating a one-woman ...

* Mum, Sphinx & Waitress 2 -

Janet Amsden Janet Amsden is a British actress who appeared in ''EastEnders'' as Margaret Wilson and was in ''Family Affairs'', playing Marie Taylor. She trained under Yat Malmgren at Drama Centre, and is one of the few practitioners currently working to sha ...

The production transferred in September 1980 to the Arts Theatre Club, with Deirdre Morris replacing Janet Amsden. 1988 London revival 29 June 1988 at the

Wyndham's Theatre Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by actor/manager Charles Wyndham (the other is the Criterion Theatre). Located on Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, it was designed c.1898 by W. G. R. Sprague, the archit ...

, London.
Directed by Steven Berkoff. * Eddy & Fortune-teller -

Bruce Payne Bruce Martyn Payne (born 22 November 1958) is an English actor, producer, screenwriter, film director and theatre director. Payne is best known for portraying villains, such as Charles Rane in ''Passenger 57'', Jacob Kell in '' Highlander: End ...

* Dad & Manager of cafe - Steven Berkoff * Wife, Doreen & Waitress 1 - Gillian Eaton * Mum, Sphinx & Waitress 2 - Georgia Brown

Opera adaptation

The play was used as the basis for a well-received

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

of the same name composed by

Mark-Anthony Turnage Mark-Anthony Turnage Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 10 June 1960) is a British composer of classical music. Biography Turnage was born in Corringham, Essex. He began composing at age nine and at fourteen began studying a ...

and first performed in 1988.Ewans, Michael
''Opera from the Greek: Studies in the poetics of appropriation''
Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2007, p. 183.

References

External links

''Greek'' webpage on the Half Moon Stages website
Plays by Steven Berkoff 1980 plays Plays based on ancient Greek and Roman plays Works based on Oedipus Rex Plays adapted into operas Plays set in London Plays based on works by Sophocles Modern adaptations of works by Sophocles {{1980s-play-stub

Notable productions

Opera adaptation

Further reading

References

External links