The Oresteia

April 17 – 26, 2026

Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre

The Oresteia is based on the three plays by Aeschylus—Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides. They are among the oldest plays in the Western canon and are the only surviving trilogy from the ancient Greek theatre.

The Boston University School of Theatre production of The Oresteia presents Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of Aeschylus’ trilogy and is directed by Shalee Cole Mauleón (CFA’26).

Due to the epic nature of the story and length of the original text, The Oresteia is rarely performed in its entirety, but McLaughlin’s version of the trilogy has been adapted into one sleek and fast-paced evening of theatre with a modern resonance.

The Oresteia concerns the House of Atreus. The arc of the story begins with Agamemnon’s slaughter of his daughter, an act committed in the name of martial duty and pious sacrifice, but deemed unforgivable by his wife, Clytemnestra—one of the most primal and psychologically complex figures in all of literature. Her act of vengeance in turn sets in motion once more the bloody cycle of that family’s history. The events that follow cast a harsh and penetrating light on any assumptions we like to make about civilization and the nature of human justice.

What does history demand? What is justice? What do we owe each other? Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of the Greek tragedies asks tough questions.

Cast

MAIRÉAD O’NEILL
NIRAH MICHEL
LEO FLORA
PAOLO BONARRIVA
RACHEL KANTER
KENNEDI YOUNG
KATE DICKINSON
LILLIAN DEVLIN
CHARLOTTE COMPO
JORDAN BERKE
SOPHIE PUGH
AVIS RUSSEY
NINI LIN
M MORRIS

Creative Team

Written by AESCHYLUS

Adapted by ELLEN McLAUGHLIN

Directed by SHALEE COLE MAULEÓN

Scenic Designer • EZINNEKA EMEH
Lighting Designer • JOE BORSCH
Costume Designer • SHIRLEY BRILL
Sound Designer • XIAORONG YIN
Stage Manager • ALIX PETZ
Co-Production Managers •LAUREN DAVIS & SEBASTIAN SACHS