Women of Troy Performance

On Tuesday the 9th of May, Year 12 students had the privilege of viewing a poignant rendition of Euripides’ Women of Troy. The play forms part of their text response unit for Term Two. Complete Works brought to life the horrors endured by the victims of the Trojan War. The play, however, is not merely anti-war, but a critique of the factors that lead men to commit unnecessary violence in times of war. These themes were shown in the actors’ of the main episodes, which included important dialogue critiquing not only war, but those who fail to fulfil their duty to protect. A feature found particularly helpful was the way in which the performance interwove analyses of key scenes within the live performative, making it both immersive and interactive to students. This coincided with the discussions had in our Year 12 classes, consolidating learning. Students were particularly drawn to the production’s sympathetic reading of the contentious character, Talthybius, the powerlessness of Hecuba and Andromache’s howls of agony, and Cassandra’s frenzied wedding dance. At the conclusion of the performance, multiple questions were asked during the Q&A session, sparking critical thinking and debate on the interpretation of Euripides’ tragedy. Overall, the show did an excellent job at showcasing the grim reality of a post-war world, in which the victors and vanquished are equated in universal suffering.