PHILOKTETES (1996/97)
Philoktetes is a staged reading first shown in Oslo in 1996. It is a study of the text Philoktetes by the American writer John Jesurun.
The text Philoktetes
is based on a tragedy with the same name written by Sophocle. Sophocle
tells us about the Greek warrior Philoktetes who during the conquest of Troy
was bitten by a snake and left behind by Odysseus on the island of Lemnos.
After ten years Odysseus returns to the island, accompanied by the young Neoptolemos.
Their meeting is in Jesuruns text described as an autopsi of a dying persons
life and an imperialistic war that leads nowhere. In a private conquest Odysseus
returns to the crime scene. In a humid hotelroom in the backwaters of the
empire the imperialist is learning the language of the dead.
Participants: Antti Bjørn, Lisbeth Bodd, Morten Cranner, Jean Vincent Kerebel, Marius Kjos, Ulf Knudsen, Martin Lundberg, Asle Nilsen, Halldis Olafsdottir, Morten Pettersen, Ellen Røed, Petter Steen.
John Jesurun
works with film, performance and theatre.
Since 1982 he has written and directed 20 plays including Deep Sleep at
"La Mama" in New York, (1986 Obie Award). His company has toured extensively
in Europe and USA.
John Jesurun has received several international prices for his work.
