Date: 3 September – 10 October 2026
Venue: Theatre Royal Stratford East, Stratford, London
Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy is a new play by Ava Pickett that takes one of the oldest stories in Greek mythology and moves it to modern-day Essex.
The play begins on Helen’s first night home after a ten-year war that was fought in her name. Her husband is ready to welcome her back, but her childhood friend Cee is not willing to pretend that nothing has happened.
Michelle Dockery, best known for Downton Abbey, plays Helen, with Laura Aikman as Cee. The production is directed by Lisa Spirling and is her first show as artistic director of Theatre Royal Stratford East.
For anyone who grew up with the Iliad, it is a sharp and very contemporary way of asking what happens to the woman at the centre of the story once the war is over.
The show runs for about two hours including an interval and is recommended for ages 14+ (strong language, violence and references to sexual violence).
Accessible performances include a Relaxed performance on 29 September, BSL on 1 October, Captioned on 2 October and Audio Described on 10 October at 14:30.
Event details
