"War
never kills war
It destroys what it can destroy and it starts again
in order to destroy again"
TROY
An experimental opera based on a play by Dimitris Dimitriadis
Voila Festival London - November 2018
Collide Theatre is thrilled to be presenting an experimental new opera about cycles of war as part of the 6th edition of VOILA Europe Festival in London this November!
Written in 2015 by one of Greece’s most prominent writers, Dimitris Dimitriades, TROY is a raw account of the destruction that war brings upon a human soul. Translated and directed by Emily Louizou, with an original music composition by David Denyer, we ask you to join our exploration of the unsolvable human need to create horror and violence.
In our production, a chorus of three female actor-musicians sing, play, and collectively bring the ghosts of the past back from Hades. Our chorus presents the accounts of three generations, three perceived symbols of masculine power: The King of Troy, his son, and his grandson. All of them were brutally killed by the Greeks but their voices return to ask for more war.
TROY foregrounds the defeated of the Trojan War in order to speak about the wars of the past, the wars of the present, and the wars of the future. This machine of annihilation which humanity has created and does not seem to want to bring to an end. But this is not yet another show about war, it is an ode to humanity.
One vicious cycle.
Three female voices.
Countless wars.
Director & Translator: Emily Louizou
Music Composition: David Denyer
Designer: Ioana Curelea
Movement: Ioli Filippakopoulou
Producer: Rachel Horowitz
Assistant Producer: Anya Dye
Stage Manager: Alex Karavia
Production photography:
Konstantinos N. Papaoikonomou
Ensemble:
Samara Zwain,
Sophie Crawford,
Ellie-Jane Goddard
★★★★★ - PlaysToSee
“The piercing stares of the all-female chorus as three Virgil like furies leave an audience squirming. What makes TROY a unique show is a brilliant incorporation of music and song into the language of the play [...] It challenges and provokes reflection. This is a great play outstandingly directed and performed. Highly recommended.”
“Just saw Troy by Collide Theatre - what a fucking fantastic bit of art. Strange and challenging and so exciting. Top direction by Emily Louizou and musical majesty from David Denyer.” @Howard (audience member on twitter)
"I loved Troy by Collide Theatre - a compelling and remarkable performance about the repetition of war, drawing chorus, incantation, live music and story into a truly contemporary piece.” @Dave (audience member on twitter)