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Overview

Synopsis

In the later years of the Trojan War, Troilus, a prince of Troy, tries to woo Cressida, a fellow Trojan. They fall in love, but she is sent as a part of a prisoner exchange to become the mistress of the Greek prince, Diomedes. Meanwhile, the Greeks' hero, Achilles, has lost his interest in the war, and general Agamemnon must try to convince him to go face the challenge of Troilus' brother, Hector. When Achilles' friend and lover, Patroclus, is killed by Hector, Achilles goes to battle, and the reinvigorated Greek forces finally defeat the Trojans. Troilus, having lost both his brother and his lover in the battle, leads the remaining Trojans retreat into the city to mourn.

One of Shakespeare's "problem plays," Troilus and Cressida is equal parts history and romance, and was considered too morally ambiguous by 19th and early-20th century scholars. However, modern directors have warmed to this complex script, and it is frequently staged in the context of current world conflicts.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1602
Genres
Drama, Historical/Biographical
Settings
Period
Time & Place
Ancient Troy , Ancient Greece
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Troilus

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Cressida

Lead

Female

Non-singer

Pandarus

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Achilles

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Aeneus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Agamemnon

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Ajax

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Diomedes

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Hector

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Nestor

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Paris

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Patroclus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Thersites

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Ulysses

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Alexander

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Andromache

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Antenor

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Calchas

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Cassandra

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Deiphobus

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Helen

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Helenus

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Margarelon

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Menelaus

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Priam

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Servant

Featured

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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