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The Oxford Greek Play

The Oxford Greek Play, whose first production took place in 1880, is a student-run triennial event supported by the Oxford University Classical Drama Society (OUCDS) and the Oxford Playhouse.

The Oxford Greek Play 2023 - Euripides’ Medea

A flyer for the Michaelmas 2023 production of Euripides' Medea, using artwork by Alphonse Mucha
What drives a mother to kill her own children? How can a victimised woman turn into a passionate and scheming avenger? These questions have gripped audiences of Euripides’ Medea for over 2000 years and will be returning to the stage once again. Performed with a new English translation alongside the original ancient-Greek, the 2023 Oxford Greek Play aims to breathe new life into the past and reveal its timeless significance.

A stranger in a foreign land, deserted by her husband Jason, Medea initially finds herself in a desperate situation. Her intelligence and wrath is feared by King Creon of Corinth, who casts her into exile. But she is fatally granted one more day to stay. A proud but treacherous woman, an expert rhetorician driven by ungovernable passion, Medea enacts deadly vengeance that shocks any who witness it. Euripides’ Medea is a classic drama that questions more than it answers, never failing to both fascinate and astound.

Age Guideline: 15+


Content Warning

This production contains scenes of violence and descriptions of sexual violence which audience members may find upsetting.

Performance Dates

Performances will take place at the Oxford Playhouse on:

  • Wednesday 8 November at 7:30pm
  • Thursday 9 November at 2pm and 7.30pm
  • Friday 10 November at 2pm and 8pm