Theatre News

Scoop Serves Up Seventh Season of Free Theatre

Editorial Staff
London's West End Off-West End

The Steam Industry marks its seventh summer residency at The Scoop at More London this year, presenting six weeks of free theatre at the open-air amphitheatre next to City Hall from 30 July to 6 September. This year’s season features two new works drawn from Greek classics – a new version of Euripides’ Medea and a family musical based on the legend of Jason and the Argonauts. 

Opening the season on 31 July (preview 30 July) is a re-imagining of Euripides’ revenge drama Medea, featuring a new translation by Stella Duffy. Directed by Steam Industry artistic director Phil Willmott, it’s billed as a “lively, modern production embracing the magnificence of More London’s riverside architecture”. The classic tale, written circa 431 AD, recounts the bloody legend of Medea, who, feeling she has been betrayed by her husband Jason, avenges him by killing all around her, including their children.

Joining Medea in rep from 7 August is new family musical The Adventures of Jason and the Argonauts, written and directed by Willmott. The ancient legend centres on the trials of the hero Jason (husband of Medea) as leads the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece.

Performances take place in the 850-seat open-air amphitheatre (with capacity of up to 1,000 including standing room) next to City Hall on Wednesdays through to Sundays. The Adventures of Jason and the Argonauts runs in the early evening 6pm slot with Medea following at 8pm.

Since Scoop’s launch in 2003, over 180,000 people have enjoyed productions including The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle Book, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Cyclops!, Oedipus, Agamemnon, Androcles and the Lion, Children of Hercules and last year’s double-bill, Petite Rouge – A Cajun Red Riding Hood and Blood Wedding. In 2006, the Scoop won the prestigious Peter Brook Empty Space Award for up-and-coming theatre of the year (See News, 7 Nov 2006).


– by Theo Bosanquet