HE TAKES WHAT HE WANTS… AND HE PAYS FOR IT!
The first play of Aeschylus’ great The Oresteia Trilogy, Agamemnon tells of the return of the King of Argos, Agamemnon, from a 10-year bloody and brutal war with Troy. Waiting at home for her husband’s return, Queen Clytemnestra has been planning his murder. Her desire: to avenge their daughter, Iphigenia, who was violently sacrificed by Agamemnon to aid the Greeks’ victory over Troy. If Medea is the worst Mother, Clytemnestra is the worst wife, “but for wronged, silenced, and undervalued daughters, she is something of a hero”.
This play contains content of a potentially upsetting nature, including suicide, murder, cruelty, violence, and sexual themes.
Auditions: Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May
What an incredible weekend of auditions! Our director, Holly, was blown away by the incredible talent of the Auckland theatre community as we hosted a whopping 40 auditions over the course of two afternoons! We want to thank everyone who came along. The team aim to get back to everyone by the end of the weekend.
Holly Charlotte Luton
Director, Dramaturg, Designer
Holly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and History from The University of Auckland, and a Master of Design, First Class Honours, from Auckland University of Technology. In 2017, she was awarded a scholarship to study abroad at Queen Mary University of London, through The University of Auckland’s 360 programme. In 2021, Holly was awarded the AUT Doctoral Scholarship to undertake her PhD at Auckland University of Technology, exploring ‘Crisis Theatre,’ expanding on her Masters research which focused on creating theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the founder of Corvus Theatre Co, she directed and designed a production of Sophocles’ Antigone in February 2021, which drew in full-capacity audiences and was internationally recognised for its research, design, and directorial outcomes.
In April 2023, Corvus Theatre Co presented its second production, a staging of Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy, Women of Troy at Auckland University of Technology to sold-out audiences. This production was presented as part of Holly Luton’s creative practice PhD at Auckland University of Technology.
The play was directed and designed by the company’s founder, Holly, and performed in the grand staircase and atrium of the Sir Paul Reeves Building at Auckland University of Technology. The performance coincided with the 10-year anniversary of the building’s opening in 2012, designed by the multi-disciplinary design group, Jasmax. The site-specific work aimed to put “the theatre back in lecture theatre” with an unconventional, site-specific performance on the grand staircase, imitating the ancient ruins of the Greek amphitheatres.
The research that arose from the performance was presented at the 2022 Theatre and Performance Research Association (TaPRA) conference at the University of Essex, United Kingdom and the 2023 Theatre in Times of Crisis conference at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. A book chapter about the production is set to be published with Cambridge Scholars entitled Performative Possibilities in Times of Crisis: Directing a Contemporary Production of Euripides’ Women of Troy in New Zealand in 2024.
A co-authored chapter with her mother on creating ‘authentic’ theatre as a young person was published in The Routledge Companion to Theatre for Young People in 2022.
Theatre Directing Credits:
Director – Women of Troy, Antigone (Corvus Theatre Co)
Assistant Director – Miss Saigon, Treasure Island (Macleans College).
Aeschylus
Playwright
Aeschylus, the ancient Greek playwright, was born around 525 BCE in Eleusis, a town near Athens. Renowned as the ‘Father of Tragedy,’ Aeschylus played a pivotal role in the development of Greek theatre during the 5th century BCE. Little is known about his early life, but he emerged as a prominent figure in the cultural and intellectual landscape of Athens.
Aeschylus began his theatrical career in the competitive world of Athenian drama, where he faced off against other playwrights, including Sophocles and Euripides. His contributions include introducing a second actor to the stage and, while sometimes disputed, possibly the third actor to the stage, thereby expanding the possibilities for dramatic interaction. Aeschylus’ plays, including The Persians (472 BCE) and Seven Against Thebes (467 BCE), established him as a master of tragic storytelling.
Perhaps Aeschylus’ most enduring work is the trilogy The Oresteia (458 BCE), consisting of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides. The trilogy centres around deep religious and moral questions, including justice, revenge, the role of women in society, and the rule of law.
Aeschylus also faced personal and political challenges, participating in the Persian Wars and fighting in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE and the Battle of Salamis in 480 BCE. These experiences influenced his plays, which explore the consequences of war.
Ted Hughes
Translator
Born in Yorkshire, England, Ted Hughes was a highly influential English poet and playwright. His work is widely recognized for its intense and emotionally charged poetic style, and he emerged as a prominent literary figure in the mid-20th century.
Hughes gained critical acclaim, publishing his first poetry collection, The Hawk in the Rain (1957). The collection announced his distinctive voice, characterized by its raw and visceral imagery, drawing inspiration from nature, mythology, and the human experience.
In 1956, Hughes married American poet Sylvia Plath, and their tumultuous relationship would significantly impact both their lives and artistic endeavours. The couple had two children before separating in 1962. Despite Plath’s tragic suicide in 1963, which caused public scrutiny and criticism towards Hughes, he continued to write prolifically.
Hughes served as the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1984 until his death in 1998. His poems often explore the elemental forces of nature, the human psyche, and the complexities of relationships. Hughes also ventured into playwriting, his works often exploring folklore and mythology. His translation of Aeschylus’ The Oresteia was published posthumously and first performed at the National Theatre in London in 1999.
Ted Hughes’ impact on English literature remains substantial, and his work continues to be studied and celebrated for its emotional intensity, vivid imagery, and exploration of profound human themes.
Corvus Theatre Co. 