Theatre of War

by Simon Adorian

Published 20 December 2003
"Theatre of War" is a modern take on an ancient Greek myth. Dealing with the issues of war (and protest against it) in an accessible and entertaining way, the playscript is suitable for both classwork and school productions. All is not well in the war-torn city of Ilium. The military leaders are alarmed to find that the people, worn out by a decade of conflict, are calling for peace talks! Thus begins a fierce struggle between those aiming for glory on the battlefield, and those who think that differences can and should be resolved peacefully. Set against a mythical backdrop, the play explores issues that are eternally relevant and should stimulate debate amongst pupils. The play has a large cast of both male and female characters and is ideal for either performance or reading aloud in class. The resource material contains advice on staging and drama activities, as well as carefully selected extracts and poems from contemporary sources, dealing with war, propaganda and protest.