The Minotaur - Royal Opera House

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by Bryony Harrison (subscribe)

Freelance writer and poet from London; if you would like to read my poetry, please check out my book, 'Poems on the Page', available from goo.gl/Ta4oAX.

Event: 21/01/2013 - 28/01/2013

A raging bull hits the high notes

John Tomlinson and Christine Rice in The Minotaur © Bill Cooper, 2008

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I find the world of mythology fascinating. I love all the ancient stories of the Egyptian, Greek, and Romans. One Greek myth that I particularly enjoy is the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. According to Mythology, King Minos of Crete fell in love with a white bull, and their union together brought about the birth of a creature, half man, half bull. It was called the Minotaur. The Minotaur was savage and killed people mercilessly, so King Minos imprisoned him in an inescapable maze. Every seven years seven men and seven maidens were sent into the maze to be devoured by the monster.

One year, a young man called Theseus vowed to slay the beast. Knowing how slim his chances were, Minos's daughter, Ariadne, gave Theseus a ball of thread to help him navigate his way around the maze. After slaying the Minotaur, Theseus was able to escape by following the thread back to the exit.

In 2008, Harrison Birtwistle, composed an opera based on the tale. Sung in English, which is always a bonus for those who like to understand what they're listening to, it is now returning to the stage at the Royal Opera House. Playing between the 21st-28th January, the story goes one step further than the myth by exploring the psyche of the Minotaur in a number of dream sequences.

The production lasts two hours and forty minutes, including an interval, and tickets cost between £16-£65.