Phaex and his other bodyguards to see what is going on, but only exacerbates the situation, with Megeara pulling a gun on them. In the ensuing stand-off, Scud is accidentally shot dead by Phaex and the aid talks break down. Tydeus and Pargeia see their chance and begin to win over Theseus to their side, whilst Eurydice decides that her refusal to bury Polynices has brought the disaster on herself. She has Scud and Polynices buried in one grave and goes back to Theseus. Theseus seems to have almost gone over to Tydeus' side when Eurydice's justice minister produces Polykleitos, who gives evidence against Tydeus as a war criminal and speaks about how Tydeus killed his son. Tydeus plans to cause an uprising, but is then knifed to death by Megeara, whose fellow villagers had been killed by his troops. Theseus then receives news of Phaedra's suicide and curses his son, who he thinks has brought about the suicide. Antigone in the meantime accepts a proposal of marriage from Eurydice's blinded son Haemon. In a state of shock at news of the suicide, Theseus agrees to invite Eurydice to Athens and resume the talks there. Miletus and Megeara then decide to travel to Athens to try their fortunes there. Literary references The play draws its plot on Polynices' burial from Sophocles' Antigone, though it substitutes Creon's widow Eurydice for Creon. Theseus receives news by mobile phone of his wife Phaedra, her incestuous love for his son by a previous marriage Hippolytus and its aftermath, all drawing on Euripides' Hippolytus. The women of Thebes are mentioned to have held a 'sex strike' to bring an end to the civil war, drawing on Aristophanes' Lysistrata. Cast (premiere production) Eurydice – Nikki Amuka-Bird Megeara – Madeline Appiah Pargeia, widow of Polynices – Rakie Ayola Junior Lieutenant Scud – Omar Brown / Rene Gray Talthybia – Jacqueline Defferary Theseus – David Harewood Ismene – Tracy Ifeachor Prince Tydeus – Chuk Iwuji Harmonia – Alexia Khadime Phaeax – Ferdinand Kingsley Aglaea – Aicha Kossoko Haemon – Simon Manyonda Tiresias – Bruce Myers Euphrosyne – Pamela Nomvete Polykleitos – Daniel Poyser Thalia – Joy Richardson Scud – Kedar Williams-Stirling Antigone – Vinette Robinson Sergeant Miletus – Michael Wildman Ensemble – Jessie Burton, Daniel Fine, Karlina Grace, Irma Inniss, Cornelius Macarthy, Clare Perkins, Victor Power, Zara Tempest Walters Reception References External links National Theatre site 2010 plays