At the end of the Trojan War, Ajax is denied his friend Achilles’ armour. After 10 years of constant fighting he snaps.
Worn down by a whole decade of consistent violence, he must decide whether he has the strength to face his demons, or to end it all. His wife and child do their best to change his mind.
Burning House Artistic Director Robert Johnson re-writes Sophocles’ powerful tragedy, modernising the setting but keeping the powerful, mythical context. The play is in both English and Arabic.
“I’m tremendously excited to bring this work to Sydney,” says Johnson. “It’s such a powerful experience sitting in the audience watching this show. Everyone becomes connected by sharing in the ritual of grief, and language barriers all but disappear. Tragedy is such a strong social tool at purging unnecessary difference – I really urge everyone to come see this work. They won’t have spent another hour in the theatre like it. It’s incredibly intense – think The Hurt Locker meets Passolini.”
The cast includes Seton Pollock (Ajax), Michelle Robertson (Tekmessa), Chad O’Brien (Odysseus) and Leikny Middleton (Eurysaka).