Mere days ago, Hecuba was Queen of Troy, now she’s a refugee of war.

Hecuba (Greek spelling Hekabe) begins with the Greeks determined to sacrifice her daughter on Achilles’ tomb in gratitude for their victory. Her wealth and power are gone; and now, Hekabe lays prostrate before her enemy. She’s never forgotten her own benevolence to this cowardly monarch when he so desperately begged her assistance. Will he return the favor? And if he doesn’t, can she avenge her loss? Euripides’ tale of power, pride, and patriotism takes on new meaning in these times of mounting conflict.

Hecuba performances are Nov. 10-12 and Nov. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Neese Theatre at 600 Bushnell St. Tickets $5-10.

Hecuba is the inaugural production of Beloit College’s 2022-23 season featuring formidable women challenged by their circumstances, not unlike those faced in today’s modern world. Director Amy Sarno was planning the theater’s season as the war in Ukraine broke out and Hecuba popped into her mind as a possible production.

“I started thinking about how many women and children would be displaced by this battle, and others in the last decade and I kept wondering how we, as Americans, think about the utter wreckage of our world when we are geographically removed from these invasions,” Sarno says.

This is Beloit College Theatre’s third production of British playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker’s work. Sarno directed Love of the Nightingale in 1999 and Ashgirl in 2006.

“Wertenbaker’s work looks at ancient myths and fairy tales through a feminist lens in an incredibly imaginative way,” Sarno says.

Beloit College Theatre’s exciting new season focused on women includes Blackademics on March 2-4 & March 9-11, followed by Mrs. Packard on April 20-22 & April 27-29.

Cast
Hekabe: Elena Nasser (third year)
Polyxena/Serving Woman: Harper Scott (fourth year)
Agamemnon: Kendric Chen (first year)
Odysseus/Polymestor’s son: Manny Nunez (second year)
Polydorus/Polymestor’s son: Casey Barasch (first year)
Polymestor/Talthybios: Louis Bernard (first year)

Chorus
Paxton Giarritano (second year)
Jasmin Montes (third year)
Hayden Zeleny (first year)

HECUBA

Nov. 10-12 and 17-19, 2022 7:30 p.m. Neese Theatre, 600 Bushnell St.
Single tickets:$10 for regular admission
$7 for seniors/first responders/Beloit College faculty and staff
$5 for students

Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office (608) 363-2755, Monday – Friday, 1-5 p.m. and on Beloit College Theatre and Dance webpage https://www.beloit.edu/academics/theatre-dance/performances-tickets/