Hercules Furens

Not Man Apart (NMA), the Los Angeles-based physical theatre ensemble since 2004, presents John Farmanesh-Bocca’s adaptation of Roman Philosopher and Playwright Seneca the Younger’s tragedy. Hercules Furens portrays one of the most bitter and grotesque legends of this half-mortal son of the God Jupiter: Hercules’ maddened slaughter of his own innocent wife and children. This athletic adaptation performed by the NMA Ensemble asks, how does a man survive his own unforgivable crimes? Adapted and directed by John Farmanesh-Bocca and choreographed by Farmanesh-Bocca, Jones Welsh and the NMA ensemble, the Action follows the journey of Hercules, Jupiter's son, through his famous Labours and into his madness when he returns home from battle, induced by the Goddess Juno (Jupiter's Vengeful Wife). Hercules Furens was never produced but only read in Seneca's lifetime. It is considered one of the first plays written that addresses the notion of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) of soldiers in battle.