• Review For Us
    • In London or across the UK
    • at Edinburgh Fringe
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews
Sophie Okonedo and Ben Daniels in Medea @sohoplace. Photo credit Johan Persson

Sophie Okonedo and Ben Daniels in Medea @sohoplace. Photo credit Johan Persson

Review: Medea at @sohoplace

“a powerful and relevant adaptation that will leave you torn and aching for more”

by Elizaveta Kolesnikova
February 17, 2023
Reading Time: 3 mins read

Five Star Review from Theatre WeeklyMedea at @sohoplace theatre is a modern take on an ancient story of betrayal and revenge that has been shocking the public since the premier of Euripides’ Medea in 5th century Athens. Directed by Dominic Cooke, this new version, adapted by Robinson Jeffers, focuses on the female side of the story. It looks at Medea as a wife, a mother and a powerful witch, three sides of her personality leading to the famous tragic events. 

The casting is the first proof of the focus on the female perspective. While there are more male than female characters in the story, we see only one male actor – Ben Daniels – taking on all male roles, including; cheating husband Jason, powerful King Creon, self-centred Aegus, and numerous others.

In 90 minutes of the show, Daniels barely ever leaves the stage, changing from one skin to another by swapping jackets and accessories. At the same time, many female voices are heard. There is Medea (brilliantly portrayed by Sophie Okonedo), her nurse (Marion Bailey), and three women of Corinth that spend most of the time in the stalls, speaking on behalf of all women in the audience. The audience is addressed as «women of Corinth», making all of us, no matter our gender, witnesses and judges of the depth of women’s power and desperation.

       

With @sohoplace theatre laid out in similar fashion to ancient Greek theatres, the audience is seated around the stage. The actors are seen from all angles, the smallest of their moves and actions under scrutiny.

It’s a suiting notion for Medea, who feels like she cannot avoid the city’s attention and speculation, as every person in Corinth knows who she is and what her husband has done to her. She tried to hide but grieve and bitter sorrow eat her alive. Creon’s decision to cast her out of Corinth becomes the final push that sets in motion her crazy yet logical revenge plan.

You mightalso like

Jordan Benjamin.jpg

Interview: Jordan Benjamin on The Little Big Things at @SohoPlace

Ed Larkin and Jonny Amies (Henry Fraser). The Little Big Things. Credit Pamela Raith Photography

Review: The Little Big Things at @SohoPlace

We follow her on every step of the journey: from seeing her emotional despair to her coming up to terms with her fate, imagining terrible plan, and bringing it to live step by step, coldly and boldly.

The set design and costumes are minimal, allowing us to focus on the emotions and gestures of the actors. The music and lighting help us to move between the rooms of Jason and Medea’s house, and travel across the city. As the revenge plot untwists, the city gets more and more gloomy. The ominous storm is coming, releasing into the pouring rain above the stage, with dark stormy clouds handing high in the air and constant rubble of thunder echoing the screams of Medea’s victims.

Eventually we reach the dramatic conclusion, the audience on edge, with electrifying silence in the air. I am sure the tension we feel can compare to shock the play caused in the audience during its original performance all those centuries ago. Medea at @sohoplace theatre is a powerful and relevant adaptation that will leave you torn and aching for more.

Medea is at @sohoplace until 22nd April 2023

       
Elizaveta Kolesnikova

Elizaveta Kolesnikova

Elizaveta is a journalist by education and marketer at the present moment, she practices ballet in the weekends and reads classic plays in the evenings. Elizaveta has been in love with the theatre for years and is always happy to recommend some interesting, original, and undiscovered theatrical gems.

Related Articles

Jordan Benjamin.jpg
Interviews

Interview: Jordan Benjamin on The Little Big Things at @SohoPlace

Ed Larkin and Jonny Amies (Henry Fraser). The Little Big Things. Credit Pamela Raith Photography
Reviews

Review: The Little Big Things at @SohoPlace

Ed Larkin & Jonny Amies (Henry Fraser). The Little Big Things. C Pamela Raith Photography.
First Look

First Look: The Little Big Things at @SohoPlace

The Little Big Things. Linzi Hateley (Fran Fraser) & Ed Larkin (Henry Fraser). Credit Shona Louise
First Look

First Look: The Little Big Things at @SohoPlace in Rehearsal

Sophie Reid
Interviews

Interview: Sophie Reid on Brokeback Mountain at @SohoPlace

Cast of The Little Big Things
News

Full Cast Announced for The Little Big Things at Soho Place

Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Jamie Muscato Joins Rachel Tucker in Concert

Jamie Muscato to Join Rachel Tucker in Concert at Cadogan Hall

Pasión de Buena Vista to tour the UK for the first time in 10 years

Pasión de Buena Vista Returns to the UK for Tour

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly