Take Euripides, Kurdish resistance and refugees in London and what do you get? “A powerful and hard-hitting female tale.” We’ve rounded up highlights from reviews of the premiere of Julia Pascal’s Blueprint Medea – plus a great London Live television interview. Time to get booking!
In the play, a modern version of Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy, Medea (played by Ruth D’Silva) is a Kurdish freedom fighter who escapes the Turkish military and arrives at UK Border Control on a forged passport. While living on the margins of London life and working illegally as a cleaner in a gym, she meets Jason-Mohammed (Max Rinehart), the son of Iraqi immigrants.
The title character is based on Asia Ramazan Antar, the real-life Kurdish Women’s Protection Units fighter who became a symbol for the feminist struggle in the Rojava conflict and in the Kurdish fight against ISIS in Syria.
Ruth D’Silva stars as Medea opposite Max Rinehart as Jason. They’re joined in the cast by Tiran Aakel, Shaniaz Hama Ali and Amanda Maud.
On London Live
Review highlights
Dominica Plummer: “The muscular direction shows the talents of the actors to best advantage… Ruth D’Silva as Medea gives us a leading lady trained to fight and win… Blueprint Medea is a multifaceted and complex drama, and is capable of making a connection with audiences wherever they may be.”
Emma Lamond: “The cast work well together, with strong individual performances and moments of beautiful storytelling… Ruth D’Silva plays a striking and captivating Medea, enticing the audience under her spell… I thoroughly enjoyed the performances… Interesting and engaging.”
Blueprint Medea makes one of the Guardian critics’ top picks of openings to see.
