Oedipus at Wyndham’s Theatre

Director Robert Icke brings his interpretation of the Greek tragedy Oedipus to London’s West End. This follows an acclaimed run at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam back in 2018 and later at the Edinburgh Festival. The English language version was due to debut in 2020 with Helen Mirren as Jocasta opposite Mark Strong as our eponymous protagonist. The pandemic postponed this and while Strong remains, Mirren was no longer available. Instead, the esteemed Lesley Manville makes her anticipated return to the stage with Michael Gould and the prolific June Watson joining her.

We open with a large screen showing video footage of Oedipus, the politician. It’s the eve of the election results and our titular character is making promises and pledges prior to the verdict being revealed. These include opening an inquiry into the death of Laius, the former King. He has not run this past Creon – his brother-in-law and second in command. It ignites further tension between the two and serves as the catalyst for the unearthing of some shattering secrets and lies.

From the off, it’s evident that Sophocles’s classic has been radically reimagined and afforded a contemporary lens through which we can witness the timeless tale play out. The political resonance is undeniable as we learn of cover-ups in the wake of scandal and watch as those in positions of power conduct themselves behind the scenes compared to when in public view. The bones of Sophocles’s story remain but Icke fleshes things out with the controlled suspense of a brooding thriller. A large digital clock is on display throughout, informing us of just how long there is to go until both the election result and the inevitable implosion of our characters’ worlds.

There are a few questionable tangents, such as a brief “coming out” scene involving one of Oedipus’s sons, and purists might complain of its straying off from its central story strands. No one can argue with the acting, however. Strong, Manville and Watson excavate a multitude of deep-rooted emotions that grasp us. We are not released until the very end of an uninterrupted two hours. An absence of interval is becoming somewhat of a trend but here it works in exacerbating the stirring tension, leaving us at once emotionally drained while also thoroughly engaged.

Audible gasps are rare but here they are prevalent. Icke makes this a family tragedy that exposes just how little control we have over our own narratives. Powerful stuff with world-class, arresting performances, this incarnation of Oedipus is not to be missed.

Jonathan Marshall
Photos: Manuel Harlan

Oedipus is at Wyndham’s Theatre from 15^th October 2024 until 4^th January 2025. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.