View source for The House of Demons (2009)

[[Image:Aeschylus_poster.jpg|thumb|300px|Poster by [[Mark Davies]]]]

adapted from [[Aeschylus]]'s [[Oresteia]], translated by [[Ted Hughes]].

Directed by [[Michael Wilson]].

Performances: Tue 3rd – Sat 7th February [[2009]], [[Bell Theatre]]


== Introduction ==

The House of Demons is an adaptation from two Greek tragedies by Aeschylus - Agamemnon and The Libation Bearers - that form part of his trilogy The Oresteia. The powerful modern translation is by the poet Ted Hughes and was commissioned by The National Theatre in 1999. 

The play follows the downfall of the cursed House of Atreus, as first King Agamemnon arrives victorious from Troy and is murdered by his queen Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus, and then their son Orestes returns to Argos to avenge his father's death. Orestes faces the greatest moral dilemma, knowing that in order to fulfil his duty to his murdered father he must kill his own mother. Ted Hughes's raw and vivid verse brings an urgency and immediacy to Aeschylus's dramatic masterpiece. 

I plan to give the play a non-specific, modern staging and make extensive use of lighting, music and sound to create a powerful theatrical experience. The strength of the play lies above all in the language, and I will be looking for actors who can do justice to the verse. The two major characters are Clytemnestra and Orestes, but all the parts have some great dramatic speeches. The Chorus is also very important, being on stage virtually throughout. It consists of three Elders of Argos who speak individually and together. Some of the smaller parts will double as servants, guards etc.

== Cast ==

*Agamemnon - [[Christopher Vian-Smith]] 
*Clytemnestra - [[Anita Sollis]] 
*Orestes - [[George Collie]] 
*Electra - [[Naomi Liddle]] 
*Aegisthus - [[Stevie Hughes]] 
*Cassandra - [[Caroline Doyle]] 
*Cilissa - [[Carole Coyne]] 
*Watchman/Servant - [[David Ewings]] 
*Herald/Pylades - [[Dion Williams]] 
*Chorus 1 - [[Christopher Poke]] 
*Chorus 2 - [[Linda East]] 
*Chorus 3 - [[Barry Heselden]]

== Musicians ==

*Keyboards/ MD - [[Gerard Johnson]]
*Woodwind - [[Michelle Thomson]]
*Cello - [[Lal Keenan]]

== Crew ==
*Production Assistant - [[Kat Moody]]
*Stage Manager - [[Graham Clements]]
*Assistant Stage Manager - [[Kat Moody]]
*Lighting Design - [[Mike Elliott]]
*Music and Sound - [[Gerard Johnson]]
*Sound & Lighting Operator - [[Induja Bandara]]
*Costume - [[Lisa Thomas]]
*Set - [[Michael Wilson]], [[Hazel Hindle]]
*Construction - [[Graham Clements]], [[Hans Mudlamootoo]], [[Chaz Doyle]] and the cast and crew.
*Photography and Poster Design - [[Mark Davies]]
*Programme Design - [[Stevie Hughes]]

== Reviews ==

Some review quotes go here


== Gallery ==



== Reminiscences and Anecdotes ==

Members are encouraged to write about their experiences of working on or seeing this production.  Please leave your name.  Anonymous entries may be deleted.

== See Also ==
Have there been other SLT productions of this play?  Link to them here.

Or add anything that is related ''within this site''.  The author's page for instance or other plays with a similar theme.

== References ==
<references/>

== External Links ==

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oresteia The Oresteia] on Wikipedia

[[Category:Productions|House of Demons (2009), The]]
[[Category:Bell Theatre Productions|House of Demons (2009), The]]