Theater of War presents "Ajax" @ Miller Theater

It has been suggested that ancient Greek drama was a form of storytelling, communal therapy, and ritual reintegration for combat veterans by combat veterans. Sophocles himself was a general.

At the time Aeschylus wrote and produced his famous Oresteia, Athens was at war on six fronts. The audiences for whom these plays were performed were undoubtedly composed of citizen-soldiers. And the performers themselves were most likely veterans or cadets. Seen through this lens, ancient Greek drama appears to have been an elaborate ritual aimed at helping combat veterans return to civilian life after deployments during a century that saw 80 years of war.

Theater of War presents a special reading of Sophocles’ Ajax to students in the Core Curriculum and the broader Columbia community over two evenings, timelessly and universally depicting the visible and invisible wounds of war. Each performance will be followed by a powerful audience discussion led by community panelists. Readings will be by Kathryn Erbe, Glenn Davis, and David Zayas, facilitated by acclaimed director Bryan Doerries. 

“I think Sophocles’ wrote these plays to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.”

— BRIGADIER GENERAL LOREE SUTTON, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 2008

Seating is limited. This ticket does not guarantee admittance.

There will be a waiting list in the event that seating becomes available.

Sophocles’ Ajax

Written in 5th Century B.C., Sophocles’ tragedy follows Ajax, a Greek warrior who falls into an interminable depression. Coping with the death of great warrior and friend, Achilles, Ajax is slighted when Achilles’ armor is unjustly awarded to the poet Odysseus instead. Ajax becomes furious and driven into madness resolves to murder those responsible for this decision but is put under a spell by the goddess Athena and massacres innocent cattle and herdsmen in his confusion. His family and friends attempt to console him, but filled with shame and remorse for his actions, Ajax ultimately commits suicide.