Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles


Oedipus speaks to his daughters: “Children … come to the hands of your own brother.”

Pupils at Charterhouse this week performed Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles in the Ben Travers Theatre. Charterhouse’s production of the Greek tragedy included Duncan Morrison (S) in the lead role, Dominic Callaghan (V) as Creon, and Lucy Haworth (g) as Jocasta. The nine-strong chorus of boys and girls sang or chanted the odes of Sophocles, to the accompaniment of organ music composed by Tim Parsons (B) and live harp music played by Rita Hackforth-Jones (B). The school supported the actors well by filling the BTT on Wednesday 15 October and Thursday 16 October.

Actors and chorus started to rehearse at the end of the Cricket Quarter but rehearsals began in earnest at the beginning of the Oration Quarter. The cast coped with a tragedy which imposes numerous cues because of the stichomythia – Sophocles’ use of line-for-line dialogue - and of antilabe – a staccato exchange of half-lines. The members of the chorus coped ably with the need to chant or sing in tune and to move in time.


Chorus: “The prayer to Apollo the healer blazes out.”

The first night showed the actors’ courage at its finest. Even experienced performers were nervous, but the cast rose memorably to the occasion. Their reward was the elation experienced by the end of the second night.

The crew coped well with limited time for technical rehearsals. Highlights of their work included the follow-spot by Sam Shepherd (H) during the chorus’ second ode.

The production was directed by RWT Haynes and AJ Jolliffe.

Photographs by RW Smeeton.