Multi-award-winning play Iphigenia in Splott by Gary Owen was a sensation when it first appeared in theatres. It later transferred to the National Theatre and went on an acclaimed UK tour.
Digital Theatre captured the production at the North Wall in Oxford in 2016 before releasing it on its consumer and education platforms.
"What gets me through is knowing I took this pain and saved all of you from suffering the same."
Stumbling down Clifton Street at 11:30am drunk, Effie is the kind of girl you'd avoid eye contact with, silently passing judgement. We think we know her, but we don't know the half of it.
Effie's life spirals through a mess of drink, drugs and drama every night, and a hangover worse than death the next day till one night gives her the chance to be something more. A powerful new adaptation of the enduring Greek myth drives home the high price people pay for society's shortcomings.
Winner of Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards 2015
CAST INCLUDES: Sophie Melville
'A furious piece; a tirade against welfare cuts piling up on the poor... Because Owen's writing about the unexpected turns that take one's life, there's no guessing where his play's going. His plot swerves like a getaway car. Just when you think you're watching one kind of play, it becomes another... Crushing.' What's On Stage ★★★★★
What's On Stage
‘The most shattering, angry call for immediate revolt that you will see on stage this year... By any measure going, this is perfect theatre: intelligent, moving, and horribly, horribly relevant. Most of all, though, in those final moments, it feels like the start of a revolution.’ Andrew Haydon, Guardian ★★★★★
The Guardian
'tense and moving... it shakes you violently and then pummels your heart.' Telegraph ★★★★★
The Telegraph
'Three key factors are responsible for making Iphigenia in Splott what I think is an extraordinary play. The first is Owen’s excellent script – razor-sharp, witty and full of emotion, it’s the work of a writer who has his pulse firmly on the mood of the world around him.' The Public Reviews.com
Thepulicreviews.com
'Strength and power was one of the hallmarks of Gary Owen’s writing right from the start with his early play Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco. Strength and power and great story telling are here again in his latest work...It’s no wonder that the demand for tickets to see the show has resulted in an extended run.' Theatre in Wales
Theatre in Wales
"Owen's excellent script – razor-sharp, witty and full of emotion, it's the work of a writer who has his pulse firmly on the mood of the world around him...Director Rachel O'Riordan plays her part perfectly too with an extremely assured command of cast and crew."
"Melville's performance is a cocktail of passion, emotion and utter fearlessness."
★★★★★
The Public Reviews
"A striking performance, Sophie Melville as Effie captivates the audience from the second she enters the stage. There were countless moments where I found myself holding my breath, awaiting the next chapter of her story"..."it’s a show you’ll want to tell everyone you saw first."
★★★★★
Buzz Magazine
"Iphigenia in Splott is a shocking, powerful and moving play, a masterpiece of post-recession theatre; state-of-the-nation told via the state of an individual." Tom Cat in the Red Room
Tom Cat in the Red Room
"Sophie Melville is phenomenal as the volatile Effie."
★★★★
The Western Mail