Greek Play

With so many humanities departments currently being axed by shortsighted university managements, it's inspiring to know that the tradition of the Cambridge Greek Play, established in the 19th century, continues in good health. These are triennial productions performed in Greek, publicly staged in the city's Arts Theatre, and involving undergraduates who often go on to do great things in the theatre and wider world. (There's an informative Cambridge Greek Play website describing its history.)

Music has featured importantly, and forthcoming in 2026 will be Ion (Euripides) with a score by Richard Causton. This week, there's going to be a launch day for the whole project, during which I am going to join a panel discussion about composing for Greek text. I think this invitation came about because I once mentioned to Ion-director Rosalind Parker that, in my teens, I myself wrote the music for a school production of this very play. At the time I was largely in the dark about what was happening in the story, often the case, when you are MD-ing a show at whatever level, and it being in Ancient Greek made the action all the harder to follow. I've subsequently reread the play in English, with great delight, and won't want to miss next year's show, which I will be better able to follow this time.

Meanwhile, I understand that all are welcome at our event this Thursday 19th June starting at 6pm, venue now moved to the Music Faculty recital room, West Road; simply RSVP to greekplay2025@gmail.com.

PICTURED: Greek Revival architecture at the Old Royal High School, Edinburgh. The nearest I will get to the Hephaisteion this year.