Phaedra, National Theatre

Australian auteur Simon Stone has a flair for making classic, canonical stories feel thrillingly fresh – from his chilling contemporary take on Yerma (Young Vic, 2016) to a masterful reinvention of Medea with the Internationaal Theater Amsterdam. Stone makes his National Theatre debut with a new production of Phaedra, premiering on the Lyttelton stage in December 2020.

Kristin Scott Thomas plays the title role. With a TV and film career that spans French arthouse and Bafta-winning rom-coms to viral feminist speeches in Fleabag and Olivier-winning stage performances, Scott Thomas is a singular talent. This will be her first time treading the boards at the National Theatre, but after an intense take on Electra (Old Vic, 2015) she is in familiar territory with Greek tragedy. Scott Thomas stars opposite French-Moroccan actor Assaad Bouab.

Based on the ancient Greek myth as told by Euripides, Seneca and Racine, the play is updated and relocated to contemporary Britain, where Phaedra is a politician. The original tragedy follows Phaedra, a Cretan princess who marries King Theseus of Athens. When she falls in love with her stepson Hippolytus, Phaedra triggers a fatal cycle of rejection, revenge and lies.

Details about this new take on Phaedra are sparse: discussing the production in a radio interview, Scott Thomas said she was curious and excited to see what Simon Stone does with the story.

Further casting details, run dates and booking dates are yet to be announced.