Helen Mirren and Mark Strong will star in Robert Icke's Oedipus, a modern adaptation of Sophocles' classical Greek tragedy.
Told in real time as the clock counts down over two hours, Sophocles' ancient Greek hero Oedipus is transformed into a political giant of today, as he awaits the results of a hard-fought election that will bring him to power. With a plague spread over Thebes, Oedipus investigates a crime with a devastating outcome. In Robert Icke's adaptation, Oedipus becomes a human figure, facing up to the tragic repercussions of his unwitting mistakes.
This adaptation is written and directed by Robert Icke, whose recent productions include The Doctor, an adaptation of the 1912 play Professor Bernhardi by Austrian writer Arthur Schnitzler, and a production of The Wild Duck after Henrik Ibsen.
Helen Mirren returns to the West End for the first time in seven years to star in Oedipus, having played current monarch Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience in 2013. Mark Strong will star alongside Mirren, whose West End credits include A View from the Bridge, earning him an Olivier Award for best actor. Details on a venue, performance dates, further casting and tickets are to be announced.
