WHISPER, THE WALLS HAVE EARS
By Vicki Berwick
Synopsis
“Whisper, the Walls Have Ears” is a searing reimagining of Clytemnestra’s story in the Agamemnon set in modern-day Syria, where war has stolen homes, husbands, and women’s voices. In the palace bedroom, Maya awaits the triumphant return of her husband, the nation’s leader, who arrives not only with power but with a new woman at his side. Speaking to her daughter Ishtar, Maya confronts the fears of her past and the brutal reality of her future, a marriage twisted by despotic control and silence. With everything at stake, she must decide whether to reclaim her life and declare that women are made of more than what war has left them with. Fierce, visceral, and unflinching, this is the story of one woman’s defiance—and of every woman forced to rise from the wreckage of war.
From the Playwright
I wanted to rephrase the ancient Greek story of the Agamemnon, focusing on Clytemnestra’s story, by placing it in a modern day context. I took inspiration from many true female stories from war torn countries so there is no one setting, but instead a universal voice of the plight of women in any given war.
About the Playwright
Vicki Berwick (she/her) was part of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme. Her short plays include ‘Ahpiemi’ (Golden Goose Theatre), ‘Lucky’ (Katzpace and The Chiswick Playhouse), ‘Monkey Bars’ (Katzpace) and ‘Whistle’ (Old Red Lion). She has also written adaptations of ‘The Polar Express’ (Storystock, Bush Theatre) and ‘Mr Benn’ (Storystock, Riverside Studios) and an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s ‘The Mozart Question’ (Barn Theatre) which was named as one of The Observer’s Top Ten shows of 2022. Her next play, ‘Hey! Christmas Tree’, was inspired by a short story by Michael Morpurgo and will be performed at Chichester Festival Theatre in December 2024.