After Troy – the Space @ Surgeon’s Hall

Following the battle of Troy, what was left for the survivors?  Homeless and suffering the loss of loved ones, the women of Troy grieved on the past, and faced uncertainty about their future.  Based upon the tragedy ‘Trojan Women’ written by Euripides which was first performed in Athens in 415 BC, this exploration into the aftermath of the defeat of the Trojans following ten years of war, tells the tale of the women who were left behind to pick up the pieces.  Presented by Badminton School, the story is weaved with actual threads, each character has her own thread, and when they share their experiences, they weave another part of life’s tapestry. 

Andromache is grieving over the loss of her husband; the Trojan prince Hector, she must now face the loss of her child who will be taken and killed too, but despite this, she is determined to survive.  Helen, the face that launched a thousand ships, is accused of being a puppet, dancing to the whims of the gods, she must return to Sparta to her husband Menelaus who she shamed with her adultery with Paris, Hector’s brother.  We here from Cassandra, the eldest daughter of King Priam, and Hecuba, her mother about their fate at the hand of the Greeks.

The play is a short piece running at thirty five minutes, but within those minutes there are nice touches with each character sitting on the stage facing away from the audience, the ensemble play different characters throughout the play, sharing a candle which is always in the hand of speaker, which gives the impression of a natural spotlight.  The threads attached to the chairs that help to weave the fabric of the story.

An interesting twist is the addition of the Rwanda genocide, an atrocity from recent history which made many people homeless, losing loved ones and becoming refugees.  The ensemble worked well together to bring this story to the stage, and this is an interesting spin on a classical tale.

To book to see the show go to – https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/after-troy, the play runs until the 9^th August 2024.

Reviewer: Caroline Worswick

Reviewed: 5^th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: