The year is 479 B.C. A messenger arrives in Susa, Persia, the capital city of the known world’s greatest empire, with terrifying news: their king, Xerxes, and his army, far away and fighting the Greek city-states, has been defeated. His father built an empire and the son has now run it into the ground.

A great critical success when presented in New York, this striking new translation by Ellen McLaughlin is adapted from what is considered the forerunner of all docudrama and the oldest survivng play.

The Persians is the only ancient Greek tragedy to have been written based on contemporary events. Aeschylus himself was at Salamis when the navy of the Greek-states, led by Athens, was able to stop the forward thrust of the Persian fleet in a decisive battle, while Xerxes sat on the shore and witnessed its destruction. With no way to supply his armies on the Greek Peninsula, Xerxes began a retreat.

This is a story of victory told by the losers, as the Persians question the hubris of the king who has led them to defeat. As America ponders its role in Iraq and the limits of its power, Aeschylus’ play has never been more relevant.