Bloodbath' by the Austrian playwright, novelist and screenwriter Gustav Ernst is based on 'Oresteia', the classic text by Aischylos and adapted by Toneelschuur Productions, directed by Nina Spijkers. To be able to sail his fleet, the Greek commander Agamemnon must sacrifice his daughter to the goddess Artemis. When he returns home victorious after ten years of war, his wife Klytaimnestra is waiting for him to settle the score. In turn, their son Orestes avenges his father by killing his mother.
Based on 'Oresteia', the tragedy by Aeschylus
Major themes such as war, expansionism, the abuse of power and our relationship with nature
In 'Bloodbath', Ernst shows the events from a feminist-critical point of view. He gives important roles to a male and female chorus, who do not mince their words. In his version, the judicial process that leads to Orestes' acquittal is shown as a process manipulated by men. Director Nina Spijkers gives an important voice to women in this play full of major themes such as war, expansionism, men's abuse of power and our relationship with nature. She admires Ernst's language: the wonderful language constructions are often very coarse but at the same time extremely funny and, in contrast to the classical language of Aeschylus, very much of our time.
