Medea
A Scots adaptation of a classic Greek tragedy
Euripides author Liz Lochhead editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Nick Hern Books
Published:18th Aug '22
Should be back in stock very soon
This adaptation of a classic tragedy explores themes of betrayal and vengeance. In Medea, a woman's desperate actions lead to devastating consequences.
In Medea, Euripides presents a harrowing tale of betrayal and vengeance, centered around a woman who takes the ultimate step in response to her husband's infidelity. This adaptation by Liz Lochhead infuses a distinctive Scots flavor into the classic narrative, making it resonate with contemporary audiences while retaining its tragic essence. The story unfolds as Medea and Jason, displaced refugees in Corinth, struggle to raise their children in a society that offers them little sympathy or support. Their love, once strong, begins to crumble under the weight of Jason's ambition and desire for acceptance.
As Jason devises a plan to secure a better future for himself, he makes the devastating choice to abandon Medea, the mother of his children. This betrayal leaves Medea feeling spurned and desperate, leading her down a dark path of retribution. The emotional turmoil she experiences is palpable, and Lochhead's adaptation captures the depth of her anguish and the complexity of her character. The audience is invited to explore the themes of love, loyalty, and the consequences of betrayal.
First performed by Theatre Babel in 2000, this powerful rendition of Medea garnered the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Award. Its revival by the National Theatre of Scotland during the 2022 Edinburgh International Festival showcased the timeless relevance of this tragic story, with Adura Onashile's portrayal of Medea earning critical acclaim and highlighting the play's enduring impact.
'This outstanding work should firmly establish the Glasgow playwright as Scotland's greatest living dramatist... the finest piece I have seen on the Scottish stage this year'
* Scotland on Sunday *'Liz Lochhead's stunning new version of Medea is the kind of interpretation – brave, visionary, risky – that blows a well-known text apart and reassembles it in a completely new light... ancient but new, cosmic yet agonisingly familiar'
* Scotsman *'Some of the most exciting recent work on Greek drama in the English language'
* Sunday Times *'Liz Lochhead's celebrated adaptation... a formidable, immersive experience'
* The Times *'Awesome... Liz Lochhead's Scots verse spits wit and venom as male power meets female determination with operatic intensity'
* Guardian *'Magnificent, thrilling... Lochhead's brilliant and scathing Scots-language version of Euripides' mighty text [has] a simmering and terrifying eloquence'
* Scotsman *'A breathtaking interpretation of the Greek tragedy... the addition of snarling Scottish dialect works brilliantly, adding extra layers of menace and seduction to the shocking tragedy... Transfixing, bloody, and reeking of danger, with images that will linger in your mind for hours after ending'
* Time Out *'Raw and brutal... Liz Lochhead's version seeks, like all good contemporary productions of Greek theatre, to trace how its universality can speak to us today'
* WhatsOnStage *'Terrific... The beauty of Lochhead's version is not just its dark sardonic humour, but also in the way it is entirely female-centred... Medea [is] far more than a woman spurned. She's a woman caught in a patriarchal society where women are devalued by men, considered fair game and judged by other women if they do not conform. She makes her decisions with that in mind – with a terrible clarity. Lochhead and Onashile make us understand those choices. Then they make us weep'
* The Stage *'Liz Lochhead's razor-sharp adaptation of Euripides' Medea is forged in fire... still searingly relevant and painfully urgent'
* Broadway WorISBN: 9781839041150
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 5mm
Weight: 81g
64 pages
National Theatre of Scotland version