rustling papyrus papers to search for remnants of Apollo’s plays. It is partially based on Ichneutae, a satyr play by the fifth-century BC Athenian dramatist Sophocles, which was found in fragments at the Egyptian city of Oxyrhynchus. “This new production, commissioned by the Finborough Theatre, marks the rediscovery of Tony Harrison’s The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus in its first London staging for nearly 30 years. Originally written to follow performances of all the great Greek tragedies, the satyr play is a short tragicomedy featuring a chorus with goat-like features and erect phalluses. Satyrs are Greek male companions of Dionysus with goat-like features and often permanent erections. To get the latest news, reviews, interviews, new show alerts and ticket offers, sign up to our weekly newsletter. This should be a timely revival as we look at how accessible theatre is not just to the patrons, as ticket prices rocket, but to the people that want to be actors, writers, directors, set designers etc as prices to train become extortionate. Tragedy and comedy, yes, but not these raucous, hybrid affairs; subversive as satire, but rowdier, earthier, more Bacchanalian than that. When they turn on their leader Silenus (Glaves), Walters has them pull out their phones to film the attack.His staging is gnatty and homespun, yet thanks to Amy Lawrence's clog choreography, carries a charge. It’s definitely worth a night out and 75 minutes of your time!Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9EDFinborough Theatre is located in Earl’s Court. The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus review – sing-along-a Sophocles 3 / 5 stars 3 out of 5 stars. The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus is a mock satyr play. Once they find the play written on the relics of papyrus papers we’re transported into that play and become voyeurs of a mad ruler playing his “liar” while subjugating his citizens with his music.The very clever prose always rhymes. Their clog dances are gripping! Tony Harrison’s The Trackers of Oxyrhnchus is a work of poetic mastery.The piece is a clever reinvention of a Satyr play by Sophocles propelled into the present day by the incorporation as characters of two Edwardian papyrologists who discovered the original manuscript.
Although it can be difficult to cast when the budget is tight and the industry is so unbalanced. Apollo laments through verse:Harrison made a point against this artificial segregation by choosing a third venue for the performance of his play between Delphi and London; he chose an abandoned Inspired by the discovery of Sophocles ’ satyr play The Ichneutae ("The Trackers") on an archaeological dig in Egypt in 1907, Harrison begins his own version of that play by introducing the two Oxford dons who found the fragments on a rubbish heap in the city of Oxyrhynchus. Play Title Publisher The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus London: Faber, 1990 Length / Form Adapted satyr-play Allusion to Classical figure Apollo, Hermes, Kyllene, Silenus, Satyrs, Marsyas Allusion to … Go see it and I doubt there’ll be a chance to see anything like this again!So why is it different? I waltzed in with my double G&T expecting an Edwardian drama about two Oxford dons in the Egyptian Desert I was soon surprised to get swearing, fake penises and rhyming couplets.The actual story does start with Edwardian Oxford papyrologists, Bernard Grenfell (The strongest performances were from Purbeck, who embraces the dated piece with the slightly imposing and at times over the top performance being Apollo requires, whereas Glaves and Peta Cornish find the subtleness in their characters Silenius (who has a lovely monologue towards the end) and as Nymph Kyllene, a character that brings the calm amongst the storm of Satyrs who shouted and stomped in Games of Thrones-esque Lancashire accents.