Helen

Helen adapted by Ellen McLaughlin

(8)
Productions (24)
Comedy/Drama
|
100 - 110 minutes
4 W, 1 M, 
Content Notes: Adult language and content
Set: An elaborate hotel room in Egypt, period uncertain.

In this fresh take on Euripides' tragicomedy, Helen never went to Troy but spent the war fought in her name in an Egyptian hotel room waiting for her husband Menelaus to come find her and take her home. In her odd exile, Helen receives visits from Io, a mythical figure who was once turned into a cow, and the goddess Athena, who informs her of the devastation that Helen's empty image has wrought upon the world. Bewildered by her strange escape from her own story, even Menelaus' final arrival cannot save Helen from the legend that has grown far larger than the woman who inspired it.

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $150

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.


Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Play Details

In this fresh take on Euripides' tragicomedy, Helen never went to Troy but spent the war fought in her name in an Egyptian hotel room waiting for her husband Menelaus to come find her and take her home. In her odd exile, Helen receives visits from Io, a mythical figure who was once turned into a cow, and the goddess Athena, who informs her of the devastation that Helen's empty image has wrought upon the world. Bewildered by her strange escape from her own story, even Menelaus' final arrival cannot save Helen from the legend that has grown far larger than the woman who inspired it.

  • Comedy/Drama
  • |
  • 100 - 110 minutes
  • 4 W, 1 M, 
  • Content Notes: Adult language and content
  • Set: An elaborate hotel room in Egypt, period uncertain.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-184-3

Published Reviews

"...McLaughlin touches on issues that the great Greek dramatist himself might have, but with her own modern slant."

Matthew Murray, Talkin' Broadway

Production History

OCT 03, 2024 - OCT 06, 2024
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH United States
Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware, OH United States
MAR 29, 2023 - APR 02, 2023
Hillsdale College Theatre Department
Hillsdale, MI United States
Hillsdale College Theatre DepartmentHillsdale, MI United States
DEC 04, 2020 - DEC 05, 2020
Haldane Drama
Cold Spring, NY United States
Haldane DramaCold Spring, NY United States
AUG 30, 2020 - AUG 30, 2020
Summit Performance Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN, IN United States
Summit Performance IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN, IN United States
AUG 27, 2020 - AUG 30, 2020
Summit Performance Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN United States
Summit Performance IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN United States
APR 01, 2020 - APR 05, 2020
Mary Baldwin University Theater Dept.
Staunton, VA United States
Mary Baldwin University Theater Dept.Staunton, VA United States
NOV 09, 2019 - NOV 10, 2019
Emerson College
Boston, MA United States
Emerson CollegeBoston, MA United States
SEP 01, 2019 - OCT 31, 2019
Purchase College SUNY
Purchase, NY United States
Purchase College SUNYPurchase, NY United States
APR 25, 2019 - APR 25, 2019
Lewis-Clark State Collge
Lewiston, ID United States
Lewis-Clark State CollgeLewiston, ID United States
APR 17, 2019 - APR 19, 2019
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL United States
Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL United States
1 of 3
No upcoming productions.
FEB 13, 2017 - FEB 13, 2017
American Players Theatre
Spring Green, WI United States
American Players TheatreSpring Green, WI United States
MAY 01, 2011 - MAY 25, 2011
Vintage Theater Collective
Chicago, IL United States
Vintage Theater CollectiveChicago, IL United States
JAN 01, 2006 - DEC 31, 2006
Live Arts
Charlottesville, NC United States
Live ArtsCharlottesville, NC United States
APR 01, 2002 - APR 30, 2002
The Public Theater
New York, NY United States
The Public TheaterNew York, NY United States

Archival Video License

Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License to add to your order for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

This allows you to record one of your live performances for your internal archives only. This cannot be streamed.

For more information, please reach out to playscriptsinfo@broadwaylicensing.com