Atwood Adaptation
Margaret Atwood's gripping reimagining of characters from Homer's Odyssey plays out in this engrossing stage adaptation directed by Susan V. Booth. Adapted by Atwood herself, the original 2007 run was a collaboration between the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Canadian National Arts Centre and has been critically acclaimed on multiple runs since, with Atwood's genius ability to mix dramatic storytelling with social commentary perfectly playing out in The Penelopiad.
Focused on the life of Penelope, Queen of Ithaca and wife of Odysseus, The Penelopiad features the character of legend narrating her life and travails in hindsight, deftly exploring themes of justice, gender-imbalanced double standards, her personal relationships and her life in the underworld. Originally published as part of the Canongate Myth Series, the original novella was listed as Editors Choice in the New York Times upon its release.