Nigel Campbell as Tiresias and Patrick Wilson as Oedipus appear in the photograph above in Oedipus Tyrannus performed in the Greek Theatre in 1979.

We head back into the archives and speak to the cast as we look back at the 1979 production of Oedipus Tyrannus in the build up to the 41st Bradfield Greek Play. Running for four shows between 24-27 June 2023, tickets for this summer’s production of Oedipus The King are free and available now via the link below.

For the 28th Bradfield College Greek Play, the Oedipus Tyrannus returned to the Greek Theatre 42 years after the first production of Sophocles’ tragedy. Co-Director Christopher Stace noted in his programme introduction that the 1937 show featured a cast and crew of 104, going on to write: “Today we work on a smaller scale, but it is to be hoped that a minimum of the spectacle and colour has been lost in the quest for authenticity.”

Saving his highest praise for the final notes of the programme Stace thanked the Chorus, calling them “the real heroes” of the Greek Play. “In strength of character and breadth of talent they have measured up well to the high standards of their predecessors. Their enthusiasm and dedication have been a constant source of inspiration. I salute them. They have been easy to teach and a pleasure to work with.”

Having played the lead role, Patrick Wilson (G 75-80) still has deep recollections of his time as ‘Oedipus’ in 1979. “I learnt my 680 lines of Ancient Greek in Crossways, where I was a guest of Headmaster Anthony and wife Jean Quick, together with my friend in G House, Graeme Lunn. They couldn’t have been more hospitable.”

One of the highlights of that summer was taking the production on tour to Cyprus where it was performed at St Barnabus School for the Blind, Nicosia and in the ancient Theatre of Curium, Limassol. It almost wasn’t didn’t happen for Patrick who recalls: “My Housemaster, Chris Saunders, feared I had taken on too much, and that it would affect me hitherto. How right he was. Luckily, by the time I went to perform on tour in August at Curium Theatre, the doctors and my mother had nursed me back to health.”

To read the full article on the Bradfield College website please follow the link here