The Iphigenia Quartet

Caroline Bird, Lulu Raczka, Chris Thorpe, Suhayla El-Bushra

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781783193219
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Ancient & Classical Drama
• Index: Literature

Agamemnon must sacrifice his daughter, Clytemnestra must try to stop him, Iphigenia must accept her fate, the Chorus must watch. Ships lie dormant in harbours, and thousands of troops sit on the shore, growing restless and unruly. Helen is gone, and pursuit of her has been stalled by windless seas. To raise the winds to send his fleet to Troy, Agamemnon is commanded by the gods to sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia. But his deceit of his wife, Clytemnestra and the killing of his child, will end up tearing him and everything around him to pieces. Euripides' story of a father moved to murder his daughter, Iphigenia at Aulis, is one that has been reinvented and retold anew throughout history. The Iphigenia Quartet sees four of the UK's most exciting and radical playwrights - Caroline Bird, Suhayla El Bushra, Lulu Raczka, and Chris Thorpe – create explosive responses to this classical tragedy. Each play is a reimagining this story of familial catastrophe from the differing perspectives of the key characters in the play: Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Iphigenia and the Chorus.

CLYTEMNESTRA

Clytemnestra © Lulu Raczka, 2016

Lulu Raczka is hereby identified as author of this play in accordance with section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The author has asserted her moral rights.

All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to Casarotto Ramsay & Associates Ltd, Waverley House, 7-12 Noel Street, London, W1F 8GQ ([email protected]). No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the author’s prior written consent.

Characters

	DIRECTOR Classic film director. Male. American or English. Just BIG. PROFESSOR Female academic specialising in Greek Tragedy. MAID Female. Maid in the palace of Clytemnestra. SOLDIER Male. Returning soldier from Troy.
Text Notes
	The characters all talk fast. Almost starting speaking before the last has finished. When they repeat themselves, or seem to get caught on a line, this is due to the speed of their thoughts, not due to hesitation.
//	Marks point of interruption
– – – – –	Within characters’ speech – a pause for that character OR signalling that a word or phrase is to be treated with significance, that it is not just another stumbled repetition. Taking up a whole line – a pause for the play
‘oi’	When a word is quoted, the character is making it clear this would not be their choice of word/s. It is being borrowed from somewhere.

DIRECTOR:	Now we’re gonna do a little exercise Don’t worry – you don’t have to speak This is an exercise in your mind Don’t be shy now – let it all flow
	First – let’s imagine the worst day of your life – Now I want you to really dig deep This is the worst day One of those days when everything collides No – ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Agamemnon
• Clytemnestra
• Iphigenia
• Chorus