Electra/Persona
11 September 2026
National Theatre
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Electra/Persona, currently running at the National Theatre until 10th October, is a fascinating double bill featuring Cate Blanchett and Nina Hoss. The duo decide who plays Electra and Elizabeth, or Clytemnestra and Alma, by coin flip in front of the audience just before starting the show, a dynamic decision that throws the audience right into the action from the first moment.
Electra, Clytemnestra’s daughter distraught over her mother having murdered her father, Agamemnon. Drowning in grief and anger.
Persona, performing the role of Electra, Elizabeth has fallen silent. During a seaside retreat to recover, under the care of nurse Alma, the two women connect on a level beyond mere speech.
The stage is dominated by a large set of stairs spanning the entire width and rising high above the audience. This is used incredibly well in various ways throughout the 2hr performance that runs without an interval.
Supported with a very small cast, Hoss and Blanchett present an absolute tour de force, with a masterful grasp on their roles, absolutely commanding the audience’s attention with every move, every breath. There is a lot of subtlety in the second part of the show, Persona. A large screen and a camera are used to transport this subtlety all the way to the back of the theatre, occasionally detracting from the impact of live theatre through the use of this technology, though generally aiding in conveying the unspoken parts of the performance.
Electra/Persona is a very intense show that thrives off nuance and unspoken meaning. Expertly presented with a focus on the art of acting by two stunning experts in their field.
