The Oresteia
Synopsis
The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus in the 5th century BC, concerning the murder of Agamemnon by Clytemnestra, the murder of Clytemnestra by their son Orestes, the trial of Orestes, the end of the curse on the House of Atreus and the pacification of the Erinyes. The trilogy—consisting of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides—also shows how the Greek gods interacted with the characters and influenced their decisions pertaining to events and disputes. The only extant example of an ancient Greek theatre trilogy, the Oresteia won first prize at the Dionysia festival in 458 BC. The principal themes of the trilogy include the contrast between revenge and justice, as well as the transition from personal vendetta to organized litigation. Oresteia originally included a satyr play, Proteus, following the tragic trilogy, but all except a single line of Proteus has been lost. Recorded at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Obi Abili
Agamemnon
Helen Carey
Nurse/Chorus F
Kelley Curran
Clytemnestra
Franchelle Stewart Dorn
Chorus G
Rinde Eckert
Chorus A/Watchman
Robin Galloway
Chorus D
Ismenia Mendes
Cassandra/Chorus H
Rad Pereira
Electra/Chorus E
Reynaldo Piniella
Orestes
Sophia Skiles
Chorus C
Simone Warren
Iphigenia/Chorus I
Corey Allen
Chorus B
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 25, 2021
VOD & Digital Platforms
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Andrew Watkins
- Screenplay & Story
- Aeschylus
- Original Title
- The Oresteia
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 1m
- Production Studios
- Theatre for a New Audience, Polonsky Shakespeare Center, Merle Debuskey Studio Program
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Andrew Watkins
Aeschylus
Anna Michael
Department Leadership Roster
Andrew Watkins
Director
Anna Michael
Editor
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Oresteia.
More Like The Oresteia
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Oresteia
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Oresteia about?
The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aeschylus in the 5th century BC, concerning the murder of Agamemnon by Clytemnestra, the murder of Clytemnestra by their son Orestes, the trial of Orestes, the end of the curse on the House of Atreus and the pacification of the Erinyes. The trilogy—consisting of Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides—also shows how the Greek gods interacted with the characters and influenced their decisions pertaining to events and disputes. The only extant example of an ancient Greek theatre trilogy, the Oresteia won first prize at the Dionysia festival in 458 BC. The principal themes of the trilogy include the contrast between revenge and justice, as well as the transition from personal vendetta to organized litigation. Oresteia originally included a satyr play, Proteus, following the tragic trilogy, but all except a single line of Proteus has been lost. Recorded at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Who directed The Oresteia?
The Oresteia was directed by Andrew Watkins.
Who stars in The Oresteia?
The principal cast of The Oresteia includes Obi Abili, Helen Carey, Kelley Curran, Franchelle Stewart Dorn, Rinde Eckert.
When was The Oresteia released and how long is it?
The Oresteia was released in 2021 with a total runtime of 2h 1m.