Women Fight Conservative Forces in New Production “Phaedra in Flames”

Het Nationale Theater kicks off the new theatre season with Phaedra in Flames, an adaptation of the Greek tragedy by Nino Haratischwili (known for The Eighth Life). Directed by Ola Mafaalani, the production features a stellar cast including Theo d’Or nominees Malou Gorter in the title role and Yela de Koning as her lover Persea. Phaedra in Flames premieres on October 4 at the Royal Theatre (Koninklijke Schouwburg) in The Hague and will tour across the Netherlands through November 28, 2025.

Alongside Malou Gorter and Yela de Koning, the cast includes Rick Paul van Mulligen, Sander Plukaard, Yamill Jones, and Gustav Borreman. Composer Krists Auznieks has created original music for the production, performed live on stage by four musicians (viola, violin, harp, and cello) from the New European Ensemble.

The Power of Love
Phaedra, Queen of Athens, is trapped in an unhappy marriage to her husband Theseus. Everything changes when she meets her future daughter-in-law Persea. This young woman shakes the foundations of the world around her, recklessly challenging existing power structures. Phaedra becomes enchanted by Persea’s fierce energy. A secret and passionate relationship develops—with disastrous consequences.

“To me, Phaedra in Flames is about the unstoppable force of love, which—like weeds—keeps growing back between the rubble. Nino Haratischwili shows us how we all—women and men alike—are living in a world built on outdated systems. The old hasn’t vanished yet, so the new cannot be born. Phaedra and Persea try to force that change, but conservative forces deny them the chance. Their attempt is a necessity—especially now. If we don’t fight for a loving way of being, there won’t be one at all.” – Ola Mafaalani

Writer Nino Haratischwili
Nino Haratischwili (Tbilisi, 1983) is a Georgian-German writer. Alongside her novels—including the bestsellers The Eighth Life (For Brilka) (2017), The Cat and the General (2019), and The Sparse Light (2022)—she writes extensively for the stage, as well as essays and opinion pieces. She initially wrote Phaedra in Flames in line with the classical myth, where Phaedra falls in love with her stepson. But while working on the piece in Tbilisi in 2021, the local gay pride parade came under attack. Witnessing rising homophobia—driven in part by the church and right-wing populist politicians—she discarded her original version and rewrote Phaedra as a queer narrative.

Credits
Text: Nino Haratischwili | Direction: Ola Mafaalani | Cast: Malou Gorter, Yela de Koning, Gustav Borreman, Yamill Jones, Rick Paul van Mulligen, Sander Plukaard | Composition: Krists Auznieks | Live Music: New European Ensemble in rotating line-ups: Viola Emlyn Stam & Santiago Velo, Cello Matthijs Broersma & Willem Stam, Harp Astrid Haring & Ernestine Stoop, Violin Rada Ovcharova & Jellantsje de Vries | Translation: Maaike van Rijn | Language Adaptation: Ko van den Bosch | Set Design: Jeffrey Kranen & Ola Mafaalani | Costume Design: Regine Standfuss | Lighting Design: Marc Heinz | Hair & Makeup: Bärbel Scheid | Dramaturgy: Remco van Rijn | Assistant Director: Goosje Leeuwenstein | Photography: Bart Grietens

Het Nationale Theater
Based in The Hague, Het Nationale Theater is the largest touring theatre company in the Netherlands, creating performances for audiences nationwide.

New European Ensemble
In Phaedra in Flames, four musicians from the New European Ensemble (NEuE) perform live on viola, cello, harp, and violin.