Five Reasons To Catch Troy, an Epic Retelling by Malthouse Theatre

Tales are rarely as epic and timeless as Troy. The legend weaves together the enduring image of the Trojan horse with mythical characters like Achilles, Hector and Helen, transporting us to the 12th century BCE: a time of gods, heroes and war.

Now, a new retelling at Malthouse Theatre comes courtesy of playwright Tom Wright and director Ian Michael, adding another layer added to the legend. This is Troy as you’ve never seen the story told or performed.

Powered by an ensemble cast, epic sets and stunning costumes, Wright and Michael blend all the classic elements of the ancient Greek tale together with contemporary themes. Even if you’re familiar with this Trojan story of love and war, this is a new reimagining that questions everything you know of the story.

There are plenty of reasons to catch Troy when it hits the Malthouse Theatre from September 4 to 25. Here are just five.

The ensemble cast

The legend of Troy is rich with characters that still hold a special place in culture today: the powerful warrior Achilles, Greek king Agamemnon and the deity Apollo, among many more. For its season at the Malthouse, Troy’s legendary characters will be brought to life by a cast featuring Paula Arundell (known for performances in The Birds and Harry Potter & the Cursed Child), Elizabeth Blackmore (Death of a Salesman), Ciline Ajobong (Mustangs FC), Mark Leonard Winter (A Streetcar Named Desire), Danny Ball (Loaded), Geraldine Hakewill (Gaslight) and Lyndon Watts (Hamilton). And all of them are playing more than one character.

The creative team

Few stories are as replete with larger-than-life set-piece scenes as the tale of Troy, and this latest adaptation only reinforces that impressive scale. Add contemporary themes to the ancient story of love and war and it’s safe to say that director Michael (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Stolen) and playwright Wright (The Odyssey, Women of Troy) have set the bar incredibly high with this retelling. The pair have crafted an emotional, poetic and intensely physical production that might just change the way audiences think about the Trojan legend.

An age-old tale that resonates today

The story of Troy has been told time and again over the centuries, evolving and adapting since Homer’s Iliad was written nearly 3000 years ago. With this iteration of the tale, Wright and Michael have added their fingerprints to the story, weaving contemporary themes into the classic characters and ancient setting. Audiences will recognise the timeless Trojan tale, of course, but this latest retelling reaffirms the relevance of themes like generational violence and love in the time of war – fitting for the world we live in today.

A different scale compared to previous Malthouse shows

Between its mythical wars, legendary characters and the Trojan horse itself, the scale of Troy was always going to be extrodinary. Under the direction of set and costume designer Dann Barber, it’s clear that the show’s visuals are going to be as epic as its story. Particularly impressive is the large-scale amphitheatre built on the stage itself, tying this contemporary retelling to ancient Greek theatre.

A visual feast

Beyond Barber’s impressive amphitheatre, the designer has brought eye-catching flourishes to every aspect of Troy. The costumes, in particular, bring drama and flair to each of Troy ’s ensemble characters. With its ancient setting as a starting point, expect to be captivated by a colour palette of gold, cream and black running through everything from the flowy, ostentatious outfits of Trojan royalty to the chitons and armour of the story’s battling warriors.

Broadsheet is a proud media partner of Malthouse Theatre. Troy runs from September 4 to 25 at Merlyn Theatre, The Malthouse. Get your tickets now.