Declan Donnellan’s performance of the iconic ancient Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex is set in our time, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Oedipus’ subjects come to the palace, begging him to save the city from the plague. Creon, Oedipus’ brother-in-law, brings a verdict from the oracle at Delphi, stating that the plague will not end until the murderer of Laios, the former king of Thebes who was killed many years before, is driven out of the city. Oedipus launches an investigation, only to discover along the way the horrendous truth about himself – that he has killed his own father and married his own mother – a revelation that becomes both a metaphor and an eternal warning about the depths of human (sub)consciousness.
“His story can help us understand what it means to be human. Tragedies are not about heroes; they are about us, ordinary people. At first, they may seem like an exotic painting, but on closer examination, they become a mirror. The process can remind us that if we ever point a finger at anyone else, we will discover that we have three more fingers pointing back at us, even if hidden in the palm of our hand. Oedipus does just that when he declares that he will find, punish, and humiliate the murderer. But the murderer is himself,” shares Declan Donnellan.
Declan Donnellan was born in 1953 in England to Irish parents. He grew up in London and later studied English Literature and Law at Queens’ College, Cambridge. In 1978, he was invited to join the prestigious legal institution established in the 13th century, the Bar at Middle Temple. Nick Ormerod also initially completed a Law degree before studying Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art. In 1981, the two founded the British theatre company Cheek by Jowl, its name drawn from an archaic English idiom famously used in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Their theatrical work is distinguished by its ability to breathe fresh, contemporary life into classical texts. Their landmark productions have been presented in more than 50 countries and have had a profound impact on the evolution of theatrical language and audience perception worldwide.
The work of Cheek by Jowl places a strong emphasis on the actor’s craft and the vitality of their presence within the stage space and the world of the characters. Actors such as Adrian Lester, Tom Hiddleston, Ralph Fiennes, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams, Gwendoline Christie, and Matthew Macfadyen developed their talents early in their careers under the guidance of Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod.
Donnellan’s two published books also center on the theme of the actor’s presence in the life of a play and on stage. They have become essential reading for acting and theatre students around the world. His first book, The Actor and the Target, was published in 1999 and has since been translated into more than 15 languages. The Bulgarian edition was released in 2008 by Valentin Traykov Publishing House. In 2024, Donnellan’s second book, The Actor and the Space, was published in London, with a Bulgarian edition forthcoming.
The international recognition of Cheek by Jowl includes numerous prestigious theatre awards such as the Laurence Olivier Award, the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement from the Venice Biennale, and the Stanislavski International Award, which was presented to Declan Donnellan in 2018 for his outstanding contribution to world theatre. Together with Nick Ormerod, as Artistic Directors, they have been appointed Honorary Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
16+, the show contains non-sexual nudity
In Romanian language with Bulgarian and English surtitles.
The performance is part of the International Programme of Ivan Vazov National Theatre and is presented together with platform World Theatre in Sofia Platform as part of their joint initiative #StageWithoutBorders
