About the project
Hercules
Dramatic Reading of Madness of Hercules, by Euripides
Translated and Directed by Bryan Doerries
Hercules is an innovative project that presents dramatic readings by acclaimed actors of scenes from Euripides’ Madness of Hercules—an ancient Greek tragedy about an unthinkable act of violence committed by an angry man with an invincible weapon—for audiences composed of concerned citizens, activists, students, and survivors and perpetrators of gun violence, in order to generate powerful dialogue between these communities, fostering compassion, understanding, awareness, and positive action.
When I was a perpetrator of violence, I had many different friends, but the one who stood out for me was the one who never turned his back on me, no matter what poor decision I made.
About the play
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Madness of Hercules by Euripides
When the Greek hero Hercules returns to Thebes and finds his home occupied by a local tyrant, he goes on a rampage with his invincible bow, killing the men who have invaded his house and taken his family hostage. But in the heat of the battle, Hercules enters into a berserk rage and kills everyone in sight, including his wife and two young children, with his powerful weapon, mistaking them for enemies. When he comes back to his senses and takes in the horror of what he has done, Hercules contemplates suicide, but his close friend and fellow war veteran Theseus, stays by his side and offers unconditional support, encouraging him to share the burden of what he has done with his community. At its core, Euripides’ Madness of Hercules asks profound questions about how we should respond to unthinkable violence—as citizens, family members, friends, and neighbors—and how we can all work together to stop violence from occurring in our communities, before it’s too late.
Hercules Highlights
In Brooklyn, Hercules’ Battles Inspire Talk on Gun Violence
The New York Times / 2016
Hercules Trailer
Damien Scott from the Red Hook Community Justice Center speaks at Hercules in Red Hook
Columbia Street, Red Hook Houses West / 2018
The crowd at the premiere of Hercules in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza / 2016
In Brooklyn, Hercules’ Battles Inspire Talk on Gun Violence
The New York Times / 2016
Audience member speaks at Hercules in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza / 2016
Dominic Dupont facilitates discusison at Hercules in Red Hook
Columbia Street, Red Hook Houses West / 2016
Ashanti, who originated the role of the Chorus, in Hercules in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza / 2016
Paul Giamatti joins NYC table read for dialogue on gun violence
Van Dyke Houses, Brownsville Brooklyn / 2017
NY1 reports on Hercules in Brownsville
Audience Member speaks at Hercules in Red Hook
Columbia Street, Red Hook Houses West / 2018
Jeffery Wright, who originated the role of Hercules, speaks at Hercules in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza / 2016
NYPD Inspector Rafael Mascol, Commander of the 73rd Precinct, who played Hercules and Paul Giamatti, who played Theseus
Van Dyke Houses, Brownsville, Brooklyn / 2017
Tiffany Murray of Save our Streets, Crown Heights, facilitates Hercules in Brownsville discussion
Van Dyke Houses, Brownsville, Brooklyn / 2017
Hercules in Manhattan
The Greene Space WNYC & WQXR / 2018
Actors perform anti-violence play, open dialogue about social climate
Louis H. Pink Houses / 2017
News 12 reports on Hercules in East New York at the Pink Houses. Watch the news segment.
Anti-violence summit talks racial, political divisions on Staten Island
SILive.com / 2018
SILIVE reports on Hercules in Staten Island. Read the article.
Paul Giamatti, Chinasa Ogbuagu, Jumaane Williams to Perform in Anti-Gun Violence Play
Van Dyke Houses, Brownsville Brooklyn / 2017
BK reader reports on Hercules in Brownsville. Read the article.
Theater Of War Drives Discussion About Violence
Arverne Queens / 2017
The Rockaway Wave reports on Hercules in Arverne. Read the article.
‘Hercules in the Bayview’ prompts tearful, earnest discussion
Hercules in the Bayview / 2017
The San Francisco Chronicle reports on Hercules in The Bayview. Read the article.
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