Oresteia: This Restless House

April - May 2016

A distressed looking man dressed in dark clothes wraps his arms around a woman dressed in white. He holds on to her wrists and presses his face against her cheek.

Overview

A compelling, brutal and blistering drama exposing the fragility of a family’s bonds, Oresteia: This Restless House returns in 2017 to the Citizens Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival.

A father’s horrifying sacrifice of his daughter sets in motion a cycle of bloody revenge. Murder and madness ensue, testing the loyalties of his remaining children and propelling them to the edge of reason. The curse that has gripped the family for generations looks as if it will never end as the ghosts of the past continue to haunt and torment the survivors.

The Oresteia: This Restless House is a fearless reimagining of Aeschylus’ epic Greek saga and an exhilarating and contemporary take on an ancient drama that has survived two and a half thousand years.

Premiered at the Citizens Theatre in 2016 as a trilogy of plays, and now presented as one epic theatrical event, Zinnie Harris’ trailblazing new work was nominated for ‘Best New Play’ at the UK Theatre Awards in 2016, and was awarded Best New Play and Best Director at the 2016 Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland. Pauline Knowles was awarded Best Actress for her role as the vengeful Clytemnestra and leads a powerful cast.

Produced by the Citizens Theatre.

This Restless House was originally commissioned and supported by National Theatre of Scotland.

Cast

  • Name
    Adam Best
  • Name
    Cliff Burnett
  • Name
    George Costigan
  • Name
    Keith Fleming
  • Name
    Anita Vettesse
  • Name
    Itxaso Moreno

Creative team

  • Name
    Zinnie Harris
    Role
    Writer
  • Name
    Dominic Hill
    Role
    Director
  • Name
    Nikola Kodjabashia
    Role
    Composer
  • Name
    Colin Richmond
    Role
    Designer
  • Name
    Ben Ormerod
    Role
    Lighting Designer