PERSAE

by Van Badham

Aesychlus' classical epic, The Persians, gets a radical reworking for the age of embedded journalism and the war on terror.
'The Persians' have invaded Greece - or, rather, the US has invaded Persia - and the war isn't going well. Interviewed live by NBC, Queen Atossa/Barbara Bush can't help admitting to dreams about destruction, while the war-mutilated soldier she's supposed to pin a medal on reveals the horror behind his 'heroism'. As the body count mounts 'in deference of our freedom', the play asks, in turns darkly comic as well as tragic, 'Has anyone noticed there's a war on?'

'The playwright has taken the time to work on getting her point across with as much force as she can, but it is not a noticeable force: it is subtle, and it creeps up until it hits you in the face. Everyone should see it.'

Marian Cara, Tertangala

Style	Classical adaptation/expressionism/black tragi-com
Length	60 minutes
Cast	3 female, 5 male
	Variable cast - 21+ roles
Cast age	16 to 18, 18+
Audience age	young adult, adult
Publisher	Australian Script Centre