Hippolytus, based on Euripides

International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama 2015.

The Induo Teatro Producciones, after the successful presentation of the flamenco Medea in 2013, returns to Cyprus to present Hippolytus, directed by the award winning Jose Manuel Sánchez “Andreu”. In Hippolytus, one of the most contemporary theatre plays of universal dramaturgy, Euripides sets up a masterful trap, escalated into tragic, where gods play a key role, leading humans in a disastrous conspiracy of silence, in unavoidable error, in punishment but also in forgiveness. The director aims to recompose the first tragedy written by Euripides, Hippolytus-covered-up, based on the surviving Hippolytus Bearer of the Garland and other texts of ancient literature and presents a testimony of the dilemma between passion and logic.

▪ The performances will be surtitled in English and Greek

Plot
Handsome Hippolytus, son of Theseus and the Amazon queen Hippolyta, disdains the goddess of love, Aphrodite, while he honors the goddess of virginity, Artemis. Aphrodite feels insulted and designs to punish him by sowing in the heart of Phaedra, wife of Theseus, a mad love for her maidenly stepson, Hippolytus. Hippolytus’ rage against her brings despair in the heart of Phaedra, who plans to avenge him, by unjustly accusing him of rape. Theseus without a second thought curses his son. A sea monster, sent by goddess Aphrodite, attacks Hippolytus and a messenger brings the bad news to Theseus. Hippolytus’ friends carry him covered in blood and with his last breathe he farewells his father. Phaedra feels deep regret, confesses the truth and kills herself.

Hippolytus Bearer of the Garland, first performed in 428 BC, during the Great Dionysia, won the first prize. According to the information of the ancient grammars, Euripides, in 432 BC, had also presented a tragedy on the myth of Hippolytus titled Hippolytus-covered-up. From the first Euripides’ tragedy survived only 50 verses in 19 quotes. Based on these verses Induo Teatro Producciones’ production aims to recompose the first tragedy written by Euripides, Hippolytus-covered-up, using as reference point the surviving Hippolytus Bearer of the Garland, but also Phaedra by Seneca and Epistulae Heroidum, Phaedra to Hippolytus by Ovid, adapted by the director Jose Manuel Sánchez “Andreu”.

Euripides sets up a masterful trap, escalated into tragic, where gods play a key role, leading humans in a disastrous conspiracy of silence, in unavoidable error, in punishment but also in forgiveness. No other work except Hippolytus shows so clearly the verbal form of confrontation and conflict – the speech acts that characterize the ancient Greek tragedy as a kind of theatre.

Adaptation/Direction: Jose Manuel Sánchez “Andreu”
Set and light design: INDUO TEATRO
Costumes: Pilar Jiménez, Jose Manuel Sánchez “Andreu”
Light and sound technician: David Ojeda
Assistant director: Chico García

Cast:
Hippolytus: Chico García
Phaedra: Pilar Jiménez
Nurse: Mativel Valladares
Theseus: Jesús Luque
Aphrodite: María Benítez
Messenger: Rafa Berón

Entrance: 10€ │ 5€ (Students, Senior Citizens, National Guard)
Free entrance for the persons with disabilities after proof of ID

Tickets:
- at SOEASY Kiosks in all cities,
- at TIME OUT Kiosk in Paphos,
- online at www.SoldoutTickets.com.cy