Jean Racine

Berenice is an academically rigorous, poetically sensitive and politically hard-hitting translation of Jean Racine's celebrated 17th century tragedy. An adapted version of her text with movement was first staged in 2018 in a co-production between Theatre Forge and Exchange Theatre as part of Voila! Europe theatre festival under the title Becoming Berenice with original drum and bass music by Tomas Wolstenholme to sold-out audiences. Unusually retaining the original French structure of rhyming 12-beat couplets, or Alexandrines, this modern English version seeks to highlight the Western colonial expansion in the Middle-East against which the story plays out, and of which we are arguably reaping the ever more violent repercussions. This tale of one woman's emancipation in the face of star-crossed love is the first English translation of this European classic by a woman and a person of Middle-Eastern descent.

Jean Racine's "Phaedra" stands as a cornerstone of classical French tragedy, drawing upon rich threads of mythology to weave a tale of devastating passion and inescapable fate. This play, a masterpiece of dramatic literature, explores the destructive power of forbidden desires and the agonizing consequences of moral conflict. Rooted in ancient themes, "Phaedra" delves into the complexities of human nature, offering a timeless exploration of love, duty, and the forces that drive individuals to their breaking points. A seminal work of European drama, "Phaedra" continues to resonate with its profound insights into the human condition, securing its place as a vital contribution to world literature. Experience the power and pathos of Racine's tragic vision in this meticulously prepared print edition. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.