THE FLIES – 10 years anniversary production

banner-the-flies-jean-paul-sartre-en.jpeg

Double Offie nominated in 2018, Exchange Theatre are celebrating their first decade of work with an anniversary revival of their first critical and public success: Jean-Paul Sartre’s rebellious and highly political play The Flies.

Introduction of The Flies

The Flies is Jean-Paul Sartre’s take on the story of Electra and her brother Orestes.His thriller re-imagines this famous and still relevant Greek tragedy, exploring the complexities of human values in a period of political turbulence.

« It’s the tragedy of liberty against the tragedy of fatality », says Sartre.

Orestes comes back to his birth-place of Argos to find his people under the oppression of fear and guilt: they all bear the burden of King Agamemnon’s assassination. The flies are the symbol of the burden of fate and disinformation tormenting the city of Argos. As Orestes is hounded by Jupiter, god of flies, fear and death, The Flies examine freedom, oppression and courage.

“So much innovation, invention and Energy ! Megamulticultural Exchange Theatre have done the unimaginable !”The Londonist

“Amazingly intense” The Scotsman

★★★★ Fringereview

With a live-rock band, a very physical raw organic direction and the support of a multi-screen video design, Exchange Theatre presents a very contemporary version of the play: The Greek tragedy of Electra and Orestes re-imagined by Jean-Paul Sartre is now transformed into a thrilling rock opera.

As a company priding themselves in their international and multi-cultural heritage, Exchange Theatre’s The Flies will be performed alternately in French and English in tribute to Sartre’s roots, and the 1943 play’s origins as a political allegory.

poster tv play the flies

Casting and information

The Flies

Directed by David Furlong (OFF WEST END Nominee for best director 2017, best production 2018 and best video design 2018), Exchange Theatre’s multidisciplinary and multimedia production of The Flies returns in 2019, as topical and poignant as ever.

★★★★ “More than many fringe companies, I’d love to see what Exchange Theatre could do with more resources. Their infectious energy and enthusiasm, combined with technical skill and textual insight go a long way to fulfil their mission and their undoubted ability to bring classic French texts to life for multi-cultural audiences warrant bigger and better staging. “Everything theatre

Directed by David Furlong
Set designer: Ninon Fandre
Costumes: Sarah Habib
Movement: Jennifer Kay
Associate artist and fight director: Kevin Rowntree
Lighting/video: Julien Bernard Grau
Operator: Catja Hamilton
Musicians: Leo Elso, Billy Boguard, Thomas BrodaMusical director: Paco Esquire

The Bunker
11 June – 6 July 2019
Tuesdays – Fridays, 7.30pm
Saturdays, 8.00pm
Standard: £16.00
Concessions: £14.00
Under 30s: £10.00 (limited to 10 per performance)

Buy your tickets here!

casting play the flies david furlong meena ryan samy elkhatib fanny dulin raul fernandez juliet dante chris runciman soraya spiers jonathan brandt
Left to right : David Furlong, Meena Ryan, Samy Elkhatib, Fanny Dulin, Raul Fernandez, Juliet Dante, Chris Runciman , Soraya Spiers and Jonathan Brandt