Betrayal, Redemption, and Hope on Stage at Riverside Theatre
Riverside Theatre is pleased to announce its upcoming production of The Cure at Troy by Seamus Heaney, an adaptation of Sophocles’ play Philoctetes by a celebrated Nobel Laureate. The production is directed by Adam Knight, whose recent credits at Riverside Theatre include The Weir, Julius Caesar, and Scalia/Ginsburg. Opening January 30 and running through February 9, 2025, at Riverside Theatre, located at 119 E. College Street. Tickets are on sale now at riversidetheatre.org/troy.
This compelling adaptation of a classic Greek tragedy delves into themes of morality, deception, and the human condition. The narrative finds Odysseus seeking out the banished Philoctetes in hopes of gaining a strategic advantage for the Greeks in their prolonged siege of Troy. He enlists the son of Achilles in an elaborate deception to steal a weapon of immense power. But in the conflict between private and public morality, do the ends justify the means?
“Coming into the new year after such an eventful twelve months, it felt important to go back to the well with this very old tale,” says Knight, who also serves as Producing Artistic Director at Riverside. “Not only was the work of Sophocles instrumental in defining western theatrical traditions – it was also the product of a society engaged in the first bold, fraught democratic experiment.”
This ancient text finds new urgency in this adaptation by Irish poet and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney. Born in Northern Ireland in 1939, Heaney’s works often reflect the rich tapestry of Irish rural life and history against the backdrop of prolonged conflict. His adaptation of Sophocles’ Philoctetes, titled The Cure at Troy, contains some of Heaney’s most famous lines, including the Chorus’s reflection that sometimes “hope and history rhyme.” This production at Riverside Theatre offers a unique opportunity to experience Heaney’s masterful blend of classical themes with modern sensibilities, promising an evening of thought-provoking and inspiring theatre.
“Bringing to life the words of Heaney, considered by many to be the greatest 20th century poet, feels appropriate in this UNESCO City of Literature,” adds Knight.
The cast features Tim Budd as Philoctetes, who is making his 70th appearance at Riverside. The cast also includes Aaron Stonerook* as Odysseus, Mark Worth as Neoptolemus, and Cristina Goyeneche, K. Michael Moore, and Olivia Winters as the Chorus. The creative team includes Kaelen Novak (scenic design), Cassandra Williams (costume design), Haven Haywood (lighting design), Dakota Parobek (sound design), Stephen Polchert (props design), and Kelly Garrett (stage management). (*Member of Actors’ Equity Association.)
The Cure at Troy will be performed on the Wilson Family Stage at 119 E College Street. Evening performances run Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, with Sunday matinees at 2 pm. A special talkback with the performers and director, hosted by Miriam Gilbert, will take place after the matinee on Sunday, February 2nd. This event is free and open to the public; attendance at that day’s performance is not required to participate.
The production is made possible by generous support from The Robert E. Yager Charitable Trust.
For more information and tickets, visit https://riversidetheatre.org/troy
Now in its 44th season, Riverside Theatre is Iowa City’s resident professional theatre, connecting artists and audiences through intimate, engaging, and provocative productions from the classics to new works. Riverside is a core member of the National New Play Network and a member of Theatre Communications Group.