Orpheus

The play Orphée (1926) by Jean Cocteau is a modern interpretation of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus. In Greek mythology, Orpheus was a legendary musician whose singing could charm all living things and even inanimate objects. He famously journeyed to the underworld to retrieve his deceased wife, Eurydice, but lost her again by looking back at her before they reached the surface.1

Cocteau's drama, and his later film adaptation, re-examines the themes of poetry, death, and the role of the artist. The play is considered a significant work in the revival of tragedy in contemporary theatre. The myth of Orpheus has inspired numerous artistic works, including operas and films.21