On Wednesday 12 March, members of the Senior School Classics Society travelled to London to see a new adaptation of Oedipus Rex at the Old Vic Theatre.

Spirits were high among students and staff in anticipation of a night out to remember. This Greek Tragedy is part of the Classical Civilisation A-level syllabus, so sixth form classics students were particularly keen to see how it had been adapted for the stage.

Shortly after taking our seats, the audience were plunged into darkness without warning. This was a shocking start to a very bold and visceral production where the intention to create a ‘whole body experience’ was really felt through the booming music and intense movement of the choral dancers.

Jemimah, a current Lower VI student who has studied the play, said this ‘Overall the adaptation of Oedipus Rex was captivating and moving. For me the stand out element was the chorus, who moved with impressive uniformity and completely grabbed my attention whenever they were on stage. However, I was disappointed with some of the changes to the plot that they made but the visual imagery of the rain and emotive music made up for it.’

Overall the play was hugely enjoyed by students and staff alike and gave us plenty of talking points for Classics lessons in the days to follow.