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The Persians by Aeschylus, first performed in Athens in 472 BC, is the oldest surviving complete tragedy and an exceptional work for its treatment of a recent historical event: the Persian defeat at Salamis. Aeschylus views war from the perspective of the defeated, transforming the Greek victory into a reflection on power, ambition, hubris and human fragility.

Our staging draws on the work’s striking contemporary relevance. At its core is the desire to perpetuate power: Atossa and Xerxes represent a system determined to preserve a dynasty and a hegemony that appear immutable. The chorus of elders becomes an assembly of military and political figures, divided between supporters of the regime and critical voices, although ultimately all depend on its continuity. Real testimonies, introduced by characters emerging from the audience, connect the tragedy with contemporary wars, their victims and the fragility of today’s democracies.

The stage is dominated by a monumental table, the symbolic centre of power and the focal point of the various scenic transformations. Live video, the appearance of Darius and an enormous map of the world spread beneath Xerxes’ feet complete a universe in which power and representation become intertwined. At the end, Atossa and Xerxes dine together, unmoved by the catastrophe: everything has been destroyed, yet power remains.