Theatre News

Northern Broadsides Medea at Everyman & Lowry

Northern Broadsides return to the Liverpool Everyman with its UK tour of Euripides’ Greek tragedy Medea in a new version adapted by Tom Paulin.

Medea is being directed by Northern Broadsides’ artistic director Barrie Rutter, who aims to instil the company’s trademark vitality, directness and energy to ignite the dramatic voltage found within the play.

Alone; betrayed by a husband she sacrificed everything for, Medea unleashes a horrific vengeance on her enemies, making both assassins and victims of her own children.

Featuring one of the most powerful female roles in the history of drama, Medea is an intense story fuelled by passion, hatred and deadly rage. Heroic yet deadly, sympathetic yet appalling, Medea’s barbaric actions will stir your emotions as you find yourself irresistibly drawn into the nightmare world of this spectacularly vengeful woman.

Playwright and poet Paulin has previously published two versions of Greek drama on stage, Riot Act – based on Sophocles – and Seize the Fire, a version of Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound.

He said: “Medea is the greatest woman’s part in Greek classical drama. She’s a very powerful, ferocious and highly intelligent. Anyone coming to see the play must expect to have their heart-strings torn.”

As well as directing the production Rutter will also be performing on stage in the role of Creon. Nina Kristofferson (I Cover The Waterfront) stars as Medea, while the cast also features Kulvinder Ghir (Goodness Gracious Me) as Jason and Fine Time Fontayne as Ageus.

Medea arrives to the Everyman on Tuesday 23 and runs until Saturday 27 February.

Following its visit to Liverpool, the new production ends its tour at The Lowry in Salford Quays from Tuesday 13 April.