Hercules, or his original Greek incarnation of Heracles, is best known for his 12 labours, from slaying the Nemean lion to capturing Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the gates of hell. It was this aspect of the demigod that young Daniel Schlusser read about in Charles Kingsley’s book of classical Greek heroes, popular with generations of boys since it was first published in 1855. As Artistic Director of his eponymous Melbourne-based theatre ensemble, Schlusser later discovered another side of this ancient hero in Euripides’ neglected play, Herakles, in which he murders his wife and children during a moment of madness.

Daniel Schlusser. Photo © Daisy Noyes.

“I was fascinated to find it … because it’s not in the canon,” says Schlusser of this 416 BCE play. “My first thoughts were this is a parallel story to Medea … so why is it not as celebrated?” He believes the obvious answer to that question is a greater taboo in our culture about mothers killing their children than fathers doing the same, so Medea remains more shocking, more confronting. “That in itself is an interesting problem to unknot.”

He took the play and...