In this episode, Alice interviews theatre makers Jennie Dunne and Jonathan D'Young about their new play, Long After the Labyrinth, which draws on ancient myth to explore post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding today.
As the episode explains, the Ancient Peace Studies Network at the University of St Andrews has teamed up with theatre company NMT Automatics to create an epic new play inspired by the myth of the Minotaur and the true tale of the lost Jews of Crete. A gripping narrative told via text, movement and shadow-play, we follow the life of Rena Depas as she embarks upon a labyrinthine quest to find peace in the wake of conflict.
While hiding from Nazi soldiers who are rounding up everyone in her community, Rena hides in an ancient olive tree and tumbles into the famous labyrinth of Knossos where she encounters the Minotaur. The labyrinth becomes a liminal space where she begins to process feelings of loss, grief and anger – and where the audience can explore different dimensions of post-conflict transition and peacebuilding. Will Rena be able to keep the Minotaur at bay, and what will that take? Join us on a journey of peace-seeking and peace-making, ancient and modern.
For this production, NMT Automatics have brought together a special team of creatives, who have worked with some of the most internationally renowned contemporary theatre companies, including: 1927, Gecko, Theatre Re, Ephemeral Ensemble, Barefaced Greek and Les Enfants Terribles.
Produced by NMT Automatics, Chromolume, and the Ancient Peace Studies Network and supported by Arts Council England, The Society for Classical Studies, East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue, JW3, Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Crete, and the University of St Andrews.
Alongside the performances, we will be holding a series of peace storytelling workshops, aimed at writers and performers and anyone interested in telling more peace stories: https://apsn.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2026/09/19/peace-storytelling-workshops/.
Upstairs At The Gatehouse
Highgate Village, London N6 4BD
Dates: Wednesday 21st October – Sunday 8th November 2026
Times: Tuesday – Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday 3:00pm
No performance on Sunday 25th October
Tickets available HERE
The Byre Theatre, St Andrews, Thursday 12th November 2026
Followed by a post-show Q&A with Prof. Alice König
Performing Peace Workshop on the 13th of November led by Prof. Alice König & NMTA.
Tickets available HERE
Manchester Jewish Museum, Saturday 28th November 2026
Followed by a post-show Q&A with Prof. Alice König
Performing Peace Workshop on the 29th of November led by Prof. Alice König & NMTA.
Tickets available HERE
JW3, London, Tuesday 26th January 2027
Wheelchair-accessible performance
Performing Peace Workshop on the evening of 19th of January led by Prof. Alice König & NMTA.
APGRD, University of Oxford, Tuesday 19th January 2027
Afternoon seminar and performance of selected scenes, followed by a discussion with the performers and Prof. Alice König.
For further details contact vispeace@st-andrews.ac.uk
Tune in to find out more! For a version of our podcast with close captions, please use this link. For more information about individuals and their projects, please visit the University of St Andrews' Visualising War website and the Ancient Peace Studies Network.
Music composed by Jonathan Young
Sound mixing by Zofia Guertin
