Plays

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Oedipus the King

By Sophocles
Prose Version by W.B. Yeats

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    William Butler Yeats 

  • Adapted / Translated From

    Sophocles

  • Setting

    Outside the Palace of King Oedipus.

  • Synopsis

    Sophocles' classic tragedy begins with a horrific plague afflicting the city of Thebes. King Oedipus asks the Oracle of Delphi for help who tells him that he must expel from Thebes the infamous one, who has angered the Gods. Oedipus discovers that he himself was the one who had unwittingly killed Laius and then married his own mother, Jocasta. Jocasta commits suicide and Oedipus blinds himself.

  • Play Type

    Adaptation/Translation

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast Size Male

    18

  • Cast Size Female

    3

Original Production

Original Cast  
Teresius Michael J. Dolan
Nurse May Craig
Priest Eric Gorman
Jocasta Eileen Crowe
Oedipus F J McCormick
Creon Barry Fitzgerald
First Messenger Arthur Shields
Chorus Peter Nolan
Servant Tony Quinn (1)
Leader of the Chorus John Stephenson (1)
Herdsman Gabriel J. Fallon
Second Messenger P.J. Carolan
Servant Michael Scott (1)
Chorus T. Moran
Chorus Walter Dillon
Chorus M. Finn
Boy D. Breen
Child Raymond Fardy
Child Edna Fardy
Servant C. Haughton
Chorus D. Williams
Production Team  
Musical Director Dr. J.F. Larchet
Produced by Lennox Robinson
Stage Manager Arthur Shields

Published Scripts

  • Title

    Sophocles' King Oedipus : a version for the modern stage by W.B. Yeats

  • Year

    1928

  • Published By

    Macmillan and Co.

  • Address

    London
    England

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    All Rights

  • Contact

    A.P. Watt Ltd.

  • Address

    20 John Street
    London WC1N 2DR
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)20 7405 6774

  • Email

    apw@apwatt.co.uk

  • Website

    www.apwatt.co.uk

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the original production programme and from press cuttings.