Alcestis by Euripides in a version by Ted Hughes

Directed by Pete Watt.

Performed at New Greenham Arts 19^th March 2002.

Admits (Joe Thorpe) has been marked for Death (Carl Stallwood), but with the help of Apollo (James Elliott) he arranges for a postponement, in exchange for the sacrifice of another human being. For the sake of his people, Admetos claims, he must not die. Ever since the sun god Apollo blessed him, prosperity has been the fortune he has shared with his people. Should he die, they would lose the blessing.

First to refuse to die for Admetos are his "selfish" father (Nick Davies). Although old, they value what little is left of their lives. They feel they have made enough sacrifices for their grown son -including the throne- and it's time for him to take responsibility for himself. Since no one but his wife will volunteer, Death takes Alcestis played by Paul Kerry.

When Heracles (Stuart Hunter) visits, ignorant of Alcestis' death, Admetos is torn between respect for the dead and personal grief on the one hand, and the need to welcome, refresh, and entertain a guest and special friend, on the other.

The servants (Lucy Butler and Sophie Hicklin), although ordered not to reveal the identity of the deceased, do so when they can no longer stand silently by while Heracles and his party engage in drunken revelry. Heracles resolves to do his friend a secret service by rescuing her from Death.