The Birds

The great poet, whose selected poems –edited by Margaret Atwood and Barry Callaghan—have just appeared, was fascinated by the Greek world, translating the works of Iannis Ritsos, adapting Euripides’ Trojan Women, and—in this instance—providing a completely contemporary rendering of Aristophanes’ classic play The Birds.

Gwendolyn MacEwen was fascinated all through her career by the theatre. This is a brilliant contemporary, satirical play, full of laughter and wit, and lends a new comic perspective to MacEwen’s sometimes sombre poetic vision.