Iphigenia in Splott

Iphigenia in Splott is a one-woman play, first seen in 2015, loosely adapted from the ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis.

The title character, Iphigenia (or "Effie"), finds escape from the harsh reality of her life in drink, drugs, and one-night stands. The ancient Greek play is re-told against the backdrop of a crumbling welfare state and reveals the impact of austerity and social injustice on those who have little to lose.

The play has enjoyed international acclaim, having been performed in Cardiff (Sherman Cymru), London (Lyric Hammersmith & National Theatre), Berlin (Schaubühne) and in New York (59E59 Theatres). In the UK, it won Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards, 2015.

This Student Edition of Gary Owen's critically celebrated play includes a commentary by Lucy Jackson, which considers:

• The rules of Greek drama and how they inform this play;
• Its basis in the Greek myth of Iphigenia and the Euripidean play Iphigenia at Aulis;
• The context that unites a 21st-century audience with an audience in ancient Greece;
• Modern and ancient notions of tragedy;
• Owen's use of poetic verse compared with that used in ancient drama;
• Various modern interpretations of the Iphigenia myth in theatre and literature;
• Owen's representation of marginalised voices in the play and his portrait of working-class lives;
• The notion of female sacrifice;
• Key productions of the play to date and notable staging choices.

Notes to the play are included at the back of the edition to help students decode some of the play's references.