Phaedra (Eclipse)
Dramaturgical introduction
Queen Phaedra hates her husband Theseus, the legendary slayer of the Minotaur and hero of many wars. In her eyes, he is nothing more than a primitive brute. She despises every inch of his skin and regrets every second she has to spend in his presence. Fortunately, he is often away, plundering foreign territories, subjugating weaker nations, and raping other women. Hippolytus, his son from his first marriage, seems to be his father’s complete opposite. He is fragile, gentle, and hates rudeness and violence. Why couldn’t Phaedra share her life with someone like that? In spite of her long-standing secret desire for Hippolytus, she desperately tries to keep her passions in check. After all, he is her stepson, so much younger than her, and he has a fiancée! But everything changes when news arrives of her husband’s death on one of his military campaigns. Phaedra loses control and claims the happiness that has been denied her for so long. She can’t imagine the tragic consequences her actions will have…
Author: Per Olov Enquist
Director: Jakub Šmíd
Dramaturgy: Barbara Gregorová
Set Design: Martin Chocholoušek
Costumes: Petr Vítek
Music: David Hlaváč
Lighting Design: Karel Šimek
Musical direction: Petr Svozílek
Cast: Hana Briešťanská, Viktor Kuzník, Vladimír Krátký, Kateřina Mizeráková, Roman Nevěčný, Isabela Smečka, Jana Štvrtecká, Kateřina Liďáková