Hecuba

Sarah Dowling as Hecuba

### Seen In

The Square, Ciacco (The Cafe), The Tenement Area, The Elysium Hotel, Hesperides' Florist, The Nightclub Office, The Nightclub, Troy

### Seen With

Polymestor, Polyxena, Polydorus, Cassandra, Luba, Kampe, Agamemnon, Neoptolemus, Patroclus, The Watchman, Hades, Persephone

## Relationship Information

### Family

Mother of Polyxena, Cassandra & Polydorus, Mother-in-Law to Polymestor

## Cast

### Played By

Emily Mytton, Fania Grigoriou, Kathryn Mcgarr, Maya Milet, Omagbitse Omagbemi, Sarah Dowling

Hecuba is the Queen of the Trojans, and mother to Cassandra, Polyxena and Polydorus.

Her story arc revolves around the protection of her children, initally against the impending Mycenean invasion, before she realises that the true danger may lie a little closer to home.

## Loop

Hecuba begins in the shell bedroom, with Polyxena, as they prepare for the birthday party. Then they make their way down to the main square, where they meet with Polydorus, Macaria, Polymester and Eurydice.

She climbs the throne area in the corner as the party takes place and gifts are given, then they drink in the square and dance, whilst Luba sings from balcony above. There is a brief moment where time slows and the lights darken as they have some realisation of the tragedy ahead.

She meets with Polymestor in The Tenement Area and the pair share convivial words and a drink. Here she prays to Apollo at the shrine, and urges Polymestor to do the same.

Sitting outside Ciacco (The Cafe), she sees a premonition of the poisoning of Polydorus. He appears to her and she cradles him in her arms, before he appears lifeless and she screams. Polydorus then moves in a ghostly fashion out of the square and then he reappears, being real this time, rather than a hallucination. She picks up a jewellery box from the throne area.

In panic, she rushes to The Nightclub Office to take Polydorus to be protected by Polymestor. She tells Polydorus that he is too important to stay and fight. She pays him in her gold and jewels from the box, including her golden headdress. Your Sweet Love plays and crescendos as she turns to leave her son behind.

Hecuba returns to the square where Cassandra tries to warn her of the invasion, but nobody believes her. The city alarms sound and Agamemnon enters the square. Hecuba tries to protect her daughter's but Polyxena is sacrificed.

Hecuba leaves the main square and enters the flower shop, where she begins cradling flowers like a child but they keep dropping from her arms. Tormented, she writhes around below the opening to the balcony above, eventually collecting a large clump of red flowers and holding them to herself, looking as if she is carrying an unborn baby before she screams and 'gives birth' to them and they drop to the floor. Luba then enters and Hecuba asks if her son is alive. She gains composure from hearing good news and leaves the shop with new-found.determination.

However, as she goes up the tenement area steps, she sees Polymestor dispose of the body of Polydorus from the suitcase, letting out a scream and being led away by Luba.

After passing through the greenhouse room, she mourns her loss and removes her outer layer of dress, before hiding behind the bed, Hecuba observes Polymester wearing the jewellery and looking in the mirror. She emerges and asks if her son is safe, to which he assures her that he is. Hecuba knows he is lying.

Hecuba leaps onto the table in Polymestor's office and swears revenge in an animal-like roar.

Polymestor joins a party in the The Nightclub, with the spirits of Polyxena and Polydorus, as well as Kampe. As the music 'Confusion' builds to a climax, Hecuba steps onto the dancefloor, whilst Polymestor is pinned down and blinds him, before holding his eyeballs aloft.

Hecuba has no '1:1' scenes, and does not provide a walk-out.

## Trivia

A list of little known trivia such as changes to the loop or character since previews began.

## Mythology

* A short description of this character's mythology