7 Greek tragedies in nearly 4 hours…Age of Rage is a hugely exhilarating and insightful piece of epic storytelling from Internationaal Theater Amsterdam at the Barbican Centre
“Brother is afraid of brother
father of son
son of father”
It is probably a sign of how in thrall I am to Ivo van Hove’s directiorial innovation that when the god Apollo took a tumble off the stage towards the end of Age of Rage, I really wasn’t sure whether it was intentional or not (I’m still not, I see it as a sign that even the gods aren’t infallible). But whilst I am undoubtedly a fanboy, this show sees him return to the epic storytelling that Internationaal Theater Amsterdam does so very well (qv similar anthology works Roman Tragedies, Kings of War).
Here, van Hove and co-adaptor Koen Tachelet have smashed together seven Greek tragedies by Euripides and Aeschylus to tell the overarching story of the House of Atreus. And why wouldn’t you? It seems such an obvious idea, as to appreciate the events of Agamemnon, it helps to know what happened in Hecuba, to understand the the vengeful motivations of Electra and Orestes, knowing what passes in Iphigenia in Aulis is crucial. Altogether, they present a blistering portrait of a vicious cycle of violent retribution and power struggles. Continue reading “Review: Age of Rage, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam”