User:Sangdeboeuf/Theater of War project

The Theater of War project or Philoctetes project is a theater company that has staged readings of the Greek tragedies Philoctetes and Ajax by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles. In the plays, Philoctetes and Ajax are soldiers in the Trojan War. It is the creation of theater director and translator Bryan Doerries, who has stated that he hopes to "destigmatize psychological injury". The company has staged readings of the plays for military audiences under the auspices of the United States Department of Defense. , the project has staged more than three hundred and fifty performances. Performers have included well-known actors such as David Strathairn, Bill Camp, and Juilliard alumnus Adam Driver, a former United States Marine. Other performers include Paul Giamatti, Frances McDormand, and Jesse Eisenberg. Elizabeth Marvel has portrayed Ajax's wife, Tecmessa.

Doerries has described the character of Ajax as "an ancient textbook description" of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Theater of War is also the title of a memoir by Doerries, recounting performances by the company and his own experiences.