Troilus and Cressida
From April to June 2012, Shakespeare’s Globe brought theatre companies from around the world to perform all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 37 languages. The Globe to Globe season was part of the World Shakespeare Festival for the London 2012 Festival.
Troilus and Cressida is no longer available but you can still see some of the Globe to Globe plays featured on The Space.
TROILUS AND CRESSIDA – A TOROIHI RAUA KO KAHIRA
Performed in Maori by New Zealand’s Ngakau Toa
(with scene description in English)
THE COMPANY
This production marks Ngakau Toa’s debut performance in the UK. Rawiri Paratene leads a cast of eighteen Maori actors from around New Zealand, specially assembled for this production. Perhaps best known for his role as Koro (the grandfather) in Whale Rider, Paratene has enjoyed a varied career as an actor, writer, director and producer in theatre, television, radio and film.
THE PLAY
Shakespeare’s work is set in mythological Greek times during the Trojan War, which has reached a stalemate after raging for years. While the both sides are riven by internal feuding, Troilus falls in love with Cressida, whose father has defected to the enemy. It is a tragedy of despair and betrayal, containing many well-known names from Greek legend.
PRINCIPAL CAST
Troilus: Kimo Houltham
Cressida: Awhina Rose Henare Ashby
Hector: Xavier Horan
Paris: Whatanui Flavell
Agamemnon: Scotty Morrison
Ulysses: Calvin Tuteao