Phaedra in vlammen (Phaedra in Flames is a modern take on the classic love drama, written by Nino Haratischwili (who also wrote The Eighth Life (for Brilka)). Starring Malou Gorter as Queen Phaedra, Yela de Koning as her forbidden love Persea, and featuring live music by the New European Ensemble. Do you dare to seize your freedom when the world holds you captive?

The Power of Love

Phaedra, Queen of Athens, lives trapped in an unhappy marriage with her husband Theseus. Everything changes when she meets her future daughter-in-law, Persea. This young woman shakes up everything and everyone around her, recklessly challenging existing power structures. Phaedra is captivated by Persea’s fierce power. A secret, passionate affair begins, with disastrous consequences.

Raw, evocative, and poetic

Director Ola Mafaalani made her name with raw, evocative, and poetic productions like Othello, Hemel boven Berlijn, and Fellini. She led the Noord Nederlands Toneel theatre company until 2016. After that, she created her major productions primarily at the opera house and abroad (including Berlin and Riga). For the first time since the theatre hit Borgen (2016), she is now back in the main hall. Composer Krists Auznieks has written new music, which will be performed live by four musicians from the New European Ensemble. “For me, Phaedra in Flames is about the unstoppable power of love, which blossoms again and again like a weed among the rubble. Nino Haratischwili shows how we all – women and men – live in a world based on outdated structures. The old has not yet perished, so the new cannot be born. Phaedra and Persea attempt to force that renewal, but conservative forces do not grant them a chance. Their attempt is necessary, especially now. If we do not fight for loving connection, there will be none!” – Director Ola Mafaalani

Credits

Text Nino Haratischwili 

Director Ola Mafaalani

Actors Malou Gorter, Yela de Koning, Gustav Borreman, Yamill Jones, Rick Paul van Mulligen, Sander Plukaard

New European Ensemble (NEuE) 

Harp Astrid Haring, Ernestine Stoop 

Violin Rada Ovcharova, Jellantsje de Vries 

Viola Emlyn Stam (artistic director NEuE), Santiago Velo 

Cello Matthijs Broersma, Willem Stam

Translation Maaike van Rijn 

Language coarsening Ko van den Bosch 

Music Krists Auznieks 

Set design Jeffrey Kranen & Ola Mafaalani 

Costume design Regine Standfuss 

Lighting design Marc Heinz 

Hair & make-up design Bärbel Scheid 

Dramaturgy Remco van Rijn, Luna Jongerling (intern) 

Assistant to the director Goosje Leeuwenstein

The entire team

Context program Iris Matters and Laura van Zuijlen

Preachers Iris Matters and Lotte Melkert

Reading with Erna van den Berg

Education Dyonne van Haastert

Accessibility HNTunlimited

Interpreter Erna van den Berg

Production Floor van Hees (production manager), Brechje Weerd, Hans Tetteroo

Technology Paul in het Veld (lead stage manager), Gert van Elderen, Joris Engering, Rinse de Jong, Frank van Schie

Costume studio Iris Elströdt (head), Stef Krull, Marijne Addink, Amanda van Marion, Charlotte Aubert

Clothing Tess Hummels

Hair & make-up Isabel Meijer

Decor studio Ruud Brouwer (head), Ron van Rijn, Maite Kragl, Mick Krispijn, Jelle Krug

Tour planning Joost de Kleine Beek

Marketing Koen Waanders, Laura Reijnders, in collaboration with Marketing Department, The National Theatre

Intimacy Coordinator Markoesa Hamer

Campaign Image, Anne Claire de Breij