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THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

CASSANDRA

PRESENTED BY Live Canon and the Ukrainian Institute London
The Trojan story retold by Ukraine’s pioneering feminist writer, Lesia Ukrainka; a UK premiere in an award-winning new translation.

Imagine if you could see the future, but no one would believe anything you said. This is Cassandra’s fate. Stuck in besieged Troy and knowing exactly how the war will end, Cassandra sees the destruction unfold around her, just as she knew it would. 

First published in 1908, Lesia Ukrainka’s poetic drama retells the story of the Trojan war, from Cassandra’s perspective. Nina Murray’s fresh new translation of this monumental work won the Ukrainian Institute London’s 2021 Ukrainian literature in translation prize. 

This premiere is brought to the stage by the Live Canon ensemble, who specialise in working with verse, and who have performed all over the world from Broadway to Abbey Road. 

The production is directed by Helen Eastman, whose work has included The Cure at Troy (Delphi International Festival and world tour), Bridgetower (Hackney Empire and UK tour), Fair (Trafalgar Studios) and Bicycle Boy (GDIF and UK tour), and advising on many contemporary productions of Ancient Greek plays, most recently Paradise, by Kae Tempest at the National Theatre.

The production is presented by Live Canon and the Ukrainian Institute London, in association with the Polish Cultural Institute, the Lithuanian Cultural Institute, the Goethe-Institut and the Institut Français.

Please note: Tickets are very limited for remaining performances of Cassandra.


Watch the Livestream

The evening performance of Cassandra on Sat 15 Oct will be live streamed, available to watch for 24 hours from 7:30pm on Sat 15 Oct to 7:30pm on Sun 16 Oct. Tickets are Pay What You Can with a minimum donation of £5. Book here→


On Saturday 8 October the matinee performance at 3pm will be free for displaced Ukrainians. Email info@ukrainianinstitute.org.uk to book.


Post-Show Q&A
Sunday 9th October
Free to ticket-holders

Joining the panel is Helen Eastman (director of Cassandra), Nina Murray (translator of Cassandra), Sasha Dovzhyk (expert on Lesia Ukrainka; lecturer, University College London), Ola Rondiak (Ukrainian artist) and Olesya Khromeychuk (director of Ukrainian Institute London; historian and author).


16 Oct – Opera Concert Fundraiser For Ukraine
Sunday 16th October

Ukrainian opera star Yuriy Yurchuk leads a special one-off fundraising concert in support of Ukraine. 

Royal Opera House principal artist and Ukranian baritone Yuriy Yurchuk will be joined by Armenian soprano Anush Hovhannisyan and pianist Ed Battling for an evening of world-class music in this special one-off fundraising concert. The night will feature a programme of much-loved arias and crowd favourites, with more information to be released over the coming days. 

4-16 OCT
7:30PM (TUE-SAT)
3PM (SAT)
4:30PM (SUN)
£16 STANDARD
£13 CONCESSION

CASSANDRA

PRESENTED BY Live Canon and the Ukrainian Institute London
The Trojan story retold by Ukraine’s pioneering feminist writer, Lesia Ukrainka; a UK premiere in an award-winning new translation.

Imagine if you could see the future, but no one would believe anything you said. This is Cassandra’s fate. Stuck in besieged Troy and knowing exactly how the war will end, Cassandra sees the destruction unfold around her, just as she knew it would. 

First published in 1908, Lesia Ukrainka’s poetic drama retells the story of the Trojan war, from Cassandra’s perspective. Nina Murray’s fresh new translation of this monumental work won the Ukrainian Institute London’s 2021 Ukrainian literature in translation prize. 

This premiere is brought to the stage by the Live Canon ensemble, who specialise in working with verse, and who have performed all over the world from Broadway to Abbey Road. 

The production is directed by Helen Eastman, whose work has included The Cure at Troy (Delphi International Festival and world tour), Bridgetower (Hackney Empire and UK tour), Fair (Trafalgar Studios) and Bicycle Boy (GDIF and UK tour), and advising on many contemporary productions of Ancient Greek plays, most recently Paradise, by Kae Tempest at the National Theatre.

The production is presented by Live Canon and the Ukrainian Institute London, in association with the Polish Cultural Institute, the Lithuanian Cultural Institute, the Goethe-Institut and the Institut Français.

Please note: Tickets are very limited for remaining performances of Cassandra.


Watch the Livestream

The evening performance of Cassandra on Sat 15 Oct will be live streamed, available to watch for 24 hours from 7:30pm on Sat 15 Oct to 7:30pm on Sun 16 Oct. Tickets are Pay What You Can with a minimum donation of £5. Book here→


On Saturday 8 October the matinee performance at 3pm will be free for displaced Ukrainians. Email info@ukrainianinstitute.org.uk to book.


Post-Show Q&A
Sunday 9th October
Free to ticket-holders

Joining the panel is Helen Eastman (director of Cassandra), Nina Murray (translator of Cassandra), Sasha Dovzhyk (expert on Lesia Ukrainka; lecturer, University College London), Ola Rondiak (Ukrainian artist) and Olesya Khromeychuk (director of Ukrainian Institute London; historian and author).


16 Oct – Opera Concert Fundraiser For Ukraine
Sunday 16th October

Ukrainian opera star Yuriy Yurchuk leads a special one-off fundraising concert in support of Ukraine. 

Royal Opera House principal artist and Ukranian baritone Yuriy Yurchuk will be joined by Armenian soprano Anush Hovhannisyan and pianist Ed Battling for an evening of world-class music in this special one-off fundraising concert. The night will feature a programme of much-loved arias and crowd favourites, with more information to be released over the coming days. 

4-16 OCT
7:30PM (TUE-SAT)
3PM (SAT)
4:30PM (SUN)
£16 STANDARD
£13 CONCESSION

Cassandra | Rehearsal Gallery

Photo credit: Anna Watson

Cassandra | Production Gallery

Photo credit: Harry Elletson

Cassandra | Trailer

Cast

Evie Florence

Cassandra

Mairin O’Hagan

Helen/Paris/Clytemnestra

Guy Clark

Dolon/Deiphobus/Aegisthus

Joseph Akubeze

Onomaus/Helenus/Agamemnon

Mia Foo

Polyxena/Sinon

Rebecca Hare

Andromache

Renee Salewski

Voice of Hecuba

Simon Muller

Additional Male Voices

Production Team

Writer 

Lesia Ukrainka

Translator

Nina Murray

Director

Helen Eastman

Executive Producer

Maria Montague

Associate Director

Abigail Rosser

Set and Costume Designer

Neil Irish

Costume Supervisor

Annet Black

Sound Designer/Composer

Patrick Stockbridge

Lighting Designer

Catja Hamilton

Stage Manager

Olivia Presto

Production Manager

Jordan Harris

Associate Producer

Saskia Baylis

Live Canon Intern

Stella Harris

Exhibition Artist

Ola Rondiak

Exhibition Curator

Lesia Scholey

Book Now

Health and Safety

Please check out our Covid-19 Safety FAQs for full information on what to expect and how to prepare for your visit→

Concessions

Concessions apply to students, under-18s, over-60s and more. For more info on our concession policy click here→

Accessibility

All performance spaces and facilities are fully wheelchair-accessible. For more info please contact Box Office on 0207 498 4699.

Ticket Collection

We operate a paperless box office system. You will be emailed a receipt once you have booked in advance. There is no need to print this off, just state your name at the box office on arrival.

Content Warnings
Age Recommendation

12+

Duration

1h 45m

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