Crete 1944. A young girl hides in the hollow of an ancient olive tree, watching helplessly, as her family are rounded up and loaded onto trucks. A horned shadow looms and she finds herself falling… falling…
An epic new play inspired by the myth of the Minotaur and the true tale of the lost Jews of Crete. A gripping narrative told via text, movement and shadow-play, we follow the life of Rena Depas as she embarks upon a labyrinthine quest to find peace in the wake of violence.
For this production, NMT Automatics have brought together a special team of creatives, who have worked with some of the most internationally renowned contemporary theatre companies, including: 1927, Gecko, Theatre Re, Ephemeral Ensemble, Barefaced Greek and Les Enfants Terribles.
The show is a co-production with Professor Alice König‘s Ancient Studies Peace Network based at St Andrews University, and Chromolume Productions and has been in development since January 2024. It is further supported by The Society for Classical Studies, East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue, JW3 and Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Crete.
We will complete a further three weeks of development in April 2026, leading to a work-in-progress preview on May the 3rd at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 7.30pm. Click here for tickets. The show will then be brought to completion in October 2026, ready for a 3-week run at The Gatehouse, and a UK tour.
Written by Jonathan D’Young
Created & developed by NMT Automatics
Rena: in the wake of war – Blog by Prof. Alice König
NMT Automatics 