Ajax in Iraq

Ajax in Iraq by Ellen McLaughlin

(2)
Productions (34)
Drama
|
70 - 90 minutes
7 W, 5 M,  (11-30 actors possible: 6-17 W, 5-19 M)
Content Notes: Adult language and content.

Past and present collide in Ellen McLaughlin’s mash-up of Sophocles’ classic tragedy Ajax with the modern-day Iraq war. The play follows the parallel narratives of Ajax, an ancient Greek military hero, and A.J., a female American soldier serving in Iraq. Both are models of valor in combat, and both pay a price for their valor as they struggle within themselves. Inspired by material collected from interviews with Iraq war veterans and their families, AJAX IN IRAQ explores the timeless struggle soldiers face in trying to make sense of war.

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Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
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.

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Play Details

Past and present collide in Ellen McLaughlin’s mash-up of Sophocles’ classic tragedy Ajax with the modern-day Iraq war. The play follows the parallel narratives of Ajax, an ancient Greek military hero, and A.J., a female American soldier serving in Iraq. Both are models of valor in combat, and both pay a price for their valor as they struggle within themselves. Inspired by material collected from interviews with Iraq war veterans and their families, AJAX IN IRAQ explores the timeless struggle soldiers face in trying to make sense of war.

An updated version of this play is available; contact Playscripts for details.

  • Drama
  • |
  • 70 - 90 minutes
  • 7 W, 5 M,  (11-30 actors possible: 6-17 W, 5-19 M)
  • Content Notes: Adult language and content.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-134-8

Published Reviews

"Ms. McLaughlin has carved out a career as a playwright of fierce moral conviction."

Anita Gates, The New York Times

"Ellen's tough-minded, lyrically charged dramas have tackled subjects of great relevance with astonishing invention."

Randy Gener, American Theater Magazine, TCG, Senior Editor

Production History

MAR 08, 2022 - APR 26, 2022
Georgetown High School Theatre
Georgetown, TX United States
 Georgetown High School Theatre Georgetown, TX United States
NOV 09, 2021 - NOV 13, 2021
Stephen F Austin State University - School of Theatre
Nacogdoches, TX United States
 Stephen F Austin State University - School of Theatre Nacogdoches, TX United States
APR 15, 2021 - APR 17, 2021
Yale University
New Haven, CT United States
 Yale University New Haven, CT United States
OCT 15, 2019 - OCT 15, 2019
The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts
Washington, DC United States
 The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts Washington, DC United States
SEP 05, 2018 - SEP 05, 2018
ORiGiN Theatrical (Knock and Run Theatre)
Hamilton, NSW Australia
 ORiGiN Theatrical (Knock and Run Theatre) Hamilton, NSW Australia
DEC 13, 2017 - DEC 19, 2017
Uxbridge Secondary School
Uxbridge, ON Canada
 Uxbridge Secondary School Uxbridge, ON Canada
NOV 09, 2017 - NOV 11, 2017
The Lee Strasberg Theatre And Film Institute
New York, NY United States
 The Lee Strasberg Theatre And Film Institute New York, NY United States
OCT 04, 2017 - OCT 09, 2017
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY United States
 Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY United States
MAR 21, 2017 - APR 21, 2017
Foster High School Theater
Richmond, TX United States
 Foster High School Theater Richmond, TX United States
NOV 01, 2016 - NOV 06, 2016
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX United States
 Texas State University San Marcos, TX United States
JUL 15, 2016 - AUG 15, 2016
Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble
Los Angeles, CA United States
 Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble Los Angeles, CA United States
NOV 19, 2015 - NOV 23, 2015
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC United States
 College of Charleston Charleston, SC United States
NOV 11, 2015 - NOV 11, 2015
University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL United States
 University of West Alabama Livingston, AL United States
AUG 27, 2015 - AUG 29, 2015
Black Martini Theatre
Perth, WA Australia
 Black Martini Theatre Perth, WA Australia
MAY 08, 2015 - MAY 08, 2015
University College Roosevelt
Middelburg, Netherlands
 University College Roosevelt Middelburg, Netherlands
APR 16, 2015 - APR 26, 2015
Elizabethtown College Theatre
Elizabethtown, PA United States
 Elizabethtown College Theatre Elizabethtown, PA United States
NOV 20, 2014 - NOV 23, 2014
Queens University Of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC United States
 Queens University Of Charlotte Charlotte, NC United States
NOV 20, 2014 - NOV 22, 2014
Wandering Minds
Boston, MA United States
 Wandering Minds Boston, MA United States
OCT 03, 2014 - OCT 11, 2014
University of South Carolina - Columbia
Columbia, SC United States
 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC United States
MAY 08, 2014 - JUN 01, 2014
Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble
Santa Monica, CA United States
 Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble Santa Monica, CA United States
APR 03, 2014 - APR 06, 2014
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI United States
 Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI United States
DEC 14, 2013 - DEC 14, 2013
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Idyllwild, CA United States
 Idyllwild Arts Academy Idyllwild, CA United States
DEC 13, 2013 - DEC 15, 2013
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Idyllwild, CA United States
 Idyllwild Arts Academy Idyllwild, CA United States
NOV 07, 2013 - NOV 16, 2013
Linfield College
McMinnville, OR United States
 Linfield College McMinnville, OR United States
OCT 17, 2013 - OCT 22, 2013
Cornish College Of The Arts
Seattle, WA United States
 Cornish College Of The Arts Seattle, WA United States
FEB 20, 2013 - FEB 23, 2013
PAC At Damonte Ranch
Reno, NV United States
 PAC At Damonte Ranch Reno, NV United States
DEC 10, 2012 - DEC 10, 2012
University Of Tennessee/Clarence Brown Theatre
Knoxville, TN United States
 University Of Tennessee/Clarence Brown Theatre Knoxville, TN United States
NOV 02, 2012 - NOV 18, 2012
Nadine McGuire Pavilion
Gainesville, FL United States
 Nadine McGuire Pavilion Gainesville, FL United States
OCT 05, 2012 - OCT 13, 2012
California State University- Long Beach
Long Beach, CA United States
 California State University- Long Beach Long Beach, CA United States
APR 13, 2012 - APR 22, 2012
Skidmore College Dept. Of Theater
Saratoga Springs, NY United States
 Skidmore College Dept. Of Theater Saratoga Springs, NY United States
FEB 18, 2012 - FEB 19, 2012
Mask And Rose
Puposky, MN United States
 Mask And Rose Puposky, MN United States
NOV 03, 2011 - NOV 27, 2011
Frank Theatre
Minneapolis, MN United States
 Frank Theatre Minneapolis, MN United States
JUN 03, 2011 - JUN 25, 2011
Flux Theatre Ensemble
Astoria, NY United States
 Flux Theatre Ensemble Astoria, NY United States
OCT 01, 2008 - OCT 31, 2008
A.R.T. Institute for Advanced Theatre Training
Cambridge, MA United States
 A.R.T. Institute for Advanced Theatre Training Cambridge, MA United States
No upcoming productions.
JUL 15, 2016 - AUG 15, 2016
Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble
Los Angeles, CA United States
 Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble Los Angeles, CA United States
MAY 08, 2014 - JUN 01, 2014
Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble
Santa Monica, CA United States
 Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble Santa Monica, CA United States
NOV 03, 2011 - NOV 27, 2011
Frank Theatre
Minneapolis, MN United States
 Frank Theatre Minneapolis, MN United States
JUN 03, 2011 - JUN 25, 2011
Flux Theatre Ensemble
Astoria, NY United States
 Flux Theatre Ensemble Astoria, 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 [email protected]

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