Greek (play)
Encyclopedia
Greek is a play
by Steven Berkoff
.
It was first performed at the Half Moon Theatre
in London on 11 February 1980, in a production directed by the author. The cast was:
It is a retelling of Sophocles
' Oedipus Rex. Berkoff wrote:
The play was used as the basis for a well-received opera
of the same name
composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage
and first performed in 1988.
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by Steven Berkoff
Steven Berkoff
Steven Berkoff is an English actor, writer and director. Best known for his performance as General Orlov in the James Bond film Octopussy, he is typically cast in villanous roles, such as Lt...
.
It was first performed at the Half Moon Theatre
Half Moon Theatre
The Half Moon Theatre Company was formed in 1972 in a rented synagogue in Alie Street, Aldgate, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Half Moon Passage was the name of a nearby alley...
in London on 11 February 1980, in a production directed by the author. The cast was:
- Eddy & Fortune-teller: Barry Philips
- Dad & Manager of cafe: Matthew ScurfieldMatthew ScurfieldMatthew Scurfield is an actor and the eldest child of the late author George Scurfield and his wife Cecilia in Cambridge, England....
- Wife, Doreen & Waitress 1: Linda Marlowe
- Mum, Sphinx & Waitress 2: Janet AmsdenJanet AmsdenJanet Amsden is a British actress who appeared in EastEnders as Margaret Wilson and was in Family Affairs, playing Marie Taylor. She is also a drama teacher, Ray Fearon being one of her students.-Filmography:...
It is a retelling of Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
' Oedipus Rex. Berkoff wrote:
"Greek came to me via Sophocles, trickling its way down the millenia 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."
The play was used as the basis for a well-received opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
of the same name
Greek (opera)
Greek is an opera in two acts composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage to a libretto adapted by Turnage and Jonathan Moore from Steven Berkoff's 1980 verse play Greek. The play and the opera are a re-telling of Sophocles's Greek tragedy Oedipus the King with the setting changed to the East End of London in...
composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage
Mark-Anthony Turnage
Mark-Anthony Turnage is a prolific English composer of classical music. His initial musical studies were with Oliver Knussen, John Lambert, and later with Gunther Schuller...
and first performed in 1988.