When a performance begins with the Arts Minister thanking Dionysus, the Greek god of theatre,  with libations it is a clear signal that something out of the ordinary is about to take place. The homages to Ancient Greece in The Suppliant Women don’t stop there; the entire cast is comprised of people from the local community in keeping with the common Ancient Greek practice of allowing anyone to take part in the performance so long as they attended rehearsals. These touches whilst reminding the audience of the play’s 2,500 year history serve to reinforce how startlingly relevant The Suppliant Women is today.
The Suppliant Women is an adaptation of the Aeschylus play by David Grieg and tells the story of 50 young women who flee forced marriage in North Africa and seek asylum in Greece. The chorus of young women are a tour de force fiercely demanding respect even if it will mean the end of their lives. Their boldness in the face of adversity seems to be unlimited, with their desire to assert control over their lives trumping their other fears. The young actresses dominate the stage from the moment they set foot on it and arrest the audience with their intensity, which does not relent throughout the performance.
Both the choreography and singing are haunting and carried out with naturalistic ease. And the staging of the play is phenomenal with the chorus moving with otherworldly synergy. Candles and lighting are also used to create one of the play’s most emotive scenes. Oscar Batterham is a revelation, providing much of the play’s comic relief as the weary King Pelasgos who is eager to avoid war but can’t shake the chorus’s promise of curses should he turn them away.
The play really hits home in its discussion of the treatment of refugees fleeing hardship and the treatment of women trying to live their life with agency. With the audience not being immune to the chorus’s proclamations that there will be judgement for those who do not treat refugees with compassion and humanity. The interesting discussions amongst the women about how to integrate once they are accepted into Argos, what their foreignness will mean to the Greeks and their ardent desire to be a model minority for the purpose of survival is an aspect of the play that seems well ahead of its time.
The Suppliant Women is a stellar achievement in theatre, a feminist call to action and a call for compassion. It’s awe-inducing to watch these young women fighting a king, braving the treacherous seas and hitting back against societal norms all for the purpose taking control over their destinies. They shine a light on  the brutality of the world that they are living in and stare back  ready to face it unblinking and unflinching. It’s difficult to leave the theatre without inheriting some of their confidence and their burning desire to fight for justice and defend those who face persecution.

The Suppliant Women is playing at the Young Vic until 25th November. For more information and tickets, see www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/at_the_heart_of_things