Seneca’s Tragedies: Thyestes & Oedipus

Full-cast productions of Seneca’s most famous tragedies, plus letters from the Roman philosopher read by Paul Scofield Stoic philosopher and playwright Lucius Annaeus Seneca lived through the reigns of Caligula and Claudius, and was tutor and adviser to Nero, before his untimely suicide in AD65. His gory, outrageous tragedy Thyestes inspired Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus , and is widely considered his masterpiece. It opens this collection, which also includes his classic Oedipus , a selection of his correspondence and two special documentary programmes exploring the man and his life. Thyestes – Brothers Atreus and Thyestes have fought a long and bitter civil war. After seducing Atreus’ wife and stealing the golden ram of kingship, Thyestes is defeated and banished. A pretend offer of friendship sees him returning home with his three sons, ostensibly to share the throne of Argos – but in reality, Atreus Is plotting a horrifying act of revenge. Denis Quilley and Richard Pasco star as Thyestes and Atreus, wih Anton Lesser as the Messenger. Oedipus – Cursed by the gods, Oedipus flees his native city of Corinth for Thebes. There, he solves the riddle of the Sphinx, is proclaimed King and marries Queen Jocasta. But when the city is struck by drought and a deadly plague, he is faced with a new riddle: and the answer spells his own doom… Seneca’s reworking of the Ancient Greek legend is adapted by onetime Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, and stars Martin Jarvis and Siân Phillips . Seneca’s Letters – Paul Scofield reads a selection of Seneca’s lively, humorous philosophical letters to his young friend Lucilius, in which he discurses on topics including the evils of crowds, the pleasures of old age, the perils of drunkenness, the folly of wanderlust and the part played by philosophy in advancing civilization. Is Seneca Possible? – In a personal reflection on the celebrated playwright, poet James Fenton attempts to put him into historical context. T S Eliot asserted that Seneca ‘created his own genre’, but with so few examples of Roman tragedy remaining, has our view been distorted by the drama we’ve lost? In Our Time: Seneca the Younger – Melvyn Bragg and guests Mary Beard, Catharine Edwards and Alessandro Schiesaro discuss Seneca, reflecting on his status as one of the first great writers born in the new Roman empire after the fall of the Republic. NB: Contains strong language Thyestes Thyestes – Denis Quilley Atreus – Richard Pasco The Messenger – Anton Lesser Fury – Hugh Dickson Ghost of Tantalus – David March Courtier – Anthony Newlands Tantalus, Thyestes’ son – Crawford Logan His brothers – Stuart Organ & Simon Hewitt Seneca – Peter Tuddenham Chorus – Hugh Dickson, David Gooderson, Simon Hewitt, Anton Lesser, Crawford Logan, Stuart Organ, Richard Pasco, Denis Quilley, Peter Tuddenham Oedipus Oedipus – Martin Jarvis Jocasta – Si â n Phillips Creon – John Rowe Tiresias – Hugh Dickson Manto – Frances Jeater Corinthian Messenger – Nigel Graham Phorbas – Timothy Bateson Theban Slave – David Gooderson Chorus Leader – Stephen Thorne Chorus – James Bryce, Jill Lidstone, David Peart, Jean Trend, David Gooderson, Nigel Graham, Timothy Bateson Seneca’s Letters 1: Avoid the Crowds; Befriend Your Slaves 2: The Pleasures of Old Age 3: Worldly Noise and the Tranquil Mind 4: Thoughts in a Dark Tunnel 5: Philosophy v Daily Trivialities Is Seneca Possible? Presented by James Fenton In Our Time: Seneca the Younger Presented by Melvyn Bragg With Mary Beard, Catharine Edwards and Alessandro Schiesaro Produced by Simon Tillotson © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd