The Attic Collective Presents LYSISTRATA at King's Theatre

After two decades of war the men are dying and the women feel powerless
to stop it. Lysistrata gathers together women from every state to enact
her plan. The men will be denied what they desire the most. To get it
back, they must agree to peace.

Full of raucous, bawdy humour, this radical adaptation of the ancient
Greek comedy about women on a sex strike is the first production from
The Attic Collective, a new Scottish theatre company working with
Director Susan Worsfold and Creative Producer Cat Sheridan.

First performed in classical Athens in 411 BC, _Lysistrata_ was an early
exposé of sexual relations in a male-dominated society. Reimagined in a
near future, 21st century setting, this adaptation holds the mirror up
to show us as being no less divided and no less ridiculous.

War. Sex. Power. A contemporary battle of the sexes.

Founded this year, The Attic Collective is a unique talent development
initiative from the Festival City Theatres Trust, the charitable company
that runs Edinburgh's Festival and King's Theatres. Over the course of
each year, the Collective will present three productions, a classic
work, a new play and a music theatre piece.

The productions in the first season are united by the themes of Cash,
Capital, Women and War.

Lysistrata will be followed by the world premiere of Jo Clifford's
previously unperformed play War in America_in May 2017, and a new
adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera in September 2017.

Director Susan Worsfold says: "Our production of Lysistrata is a
contemporary take on the original text, where clean aesthetic lines
offer space to make a mess and Aristophanes 'low comedy' is welcomed
with open arms. We've had huge fun rehearsing the gags, nudging at
politicians and the ego of patriarchal power that brokers wars.
Aristophanes' Lysistrata speaks to our time and our next generation of
young political thinkers.'

Creative Producer Cat Sheridan says: "We are delighted to be able to
offer this level of opportunity and access to this group of incredibly
talented emerging actors. As the largest independent theatre
organisation in Scotland, we are in a unique position. Able to offer not
only main stage shows supported by a world class team, but unprecedented
access to visiting companies, professional development workshops and
mentoring. We hope that this collective will pave a way to more free
development and training for emerging artists throughout Scotland."

The show plays at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh on Friday 27 & Saturday 28 January 2017

For more information, please visit the edtheatres website:
WWW.EDTHEATRES.COM/LYSISTRATA