People

Lakeside welcomes Electra

This month sees the arrival of a Greek family drama at the Lakeside Theatre and the directorial debut of an MA student from the University.

Electra, written by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, who specialised in tragedy, will open on 27 June at the Lakeside and will run for just three nights. It is directed by Kiriakos Charitos, an MA student in Contemporary Theatre Practice, and represents a practical project on which he will be assessed. Kiriakos also has a small role in the Greek tragedy and has also been responsible for making costumes and designing the set and lighting.

The cast is made up entirely of Essex students, mostly first year drama students and MA students, and one Law student. They have been busy rehearsing since the end of April and anticipate that the production will be well received.

On being asked why he had chosen this particular play Kiriakos said: 'Electra has always been in my mind as a play I wanted to direct and the environment here seemed so suitable because it allows for experimentation.'

He added: 'Electra is one of the greatest of Greek tragedies and it has been my aim to reveal the genre's vast and timeless power as well as the beauty in its text and as a spectacle.

Electra will run from 27 June to 29 June at the Lakeside Theatre. Prices are as follows: £4 for adults and £3 for concessions.

Top engineers from Essex

Two former Essex scientists have been listed among the UK's top ten electrical engineers.

The list, published in the Independent on Sunday last month, was compiled with assistance from the Institution of Electrical Engineers, the largest professional engineering society in Europe.

It features Michael Brady, BP Professor of Information Engineering at the University of Oxford, a former lecturer, and then senior lecturer, in the Department of Computer Science at Essex between 1970 and 1980.

Also listed is Professor John O'Reilly, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, who worked as a lecturer, then senior lecturer, in the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering at Essex for 13 years until 1985.

Also in the printed July edition of Wyvern:

• Essex environmentalist paves the way in agricultural reform
• Essex biologist forges links with Indonesian government