Thyestes

As a child I often attended Saturday afternoon matinees at the cinema featuring thrilling adventures with cliff hanger moments but never could I have imagined a tale of fratricide, incestuous rape and a father unwittingly eating the the remains of his own children which was what confronted us yesterday afternoon at the theatre. 'Thyestes' is Greek mythology and this production presented by Belvoir Street is advertised as being 'after Seneca'. It was nothing like what I imagined beforehand.

Whilst each scene is prefaced by brief surtitles explaining the mythological 1st Century BC action to follow what is then presented is a 21st Century rendition of activity that illustrates the mythology without directly recreating it.

What I've just written sounds a bit pompous but the fact is that the play staged is a very modern, at times very funny, at times highly sexualised, at times scandalous and at times shocking story which could simply be viewed as a modern shocker but is so clever as a vehicle for illustrating the mythology from twenty-two centuries earlier.

Not everyone's cup of afternoon tea but it is very well done with fine performances from its cast of three males, especially Mark Winter (above).

Warning: Nudity.