Tony Harrison: Fram

Allusion to Classical figure Gilbert Murray (best known for his verse-translations of Ancient Greek drama), Aeschylus. Nansen is cast in the role of classical hero to Murray’s poet/playwright; both roles are opened up to question and scrutiny in the course of the play.

Relationship to Classical text The form of the play echoes many of the devices of Greek Tragedy (a heroic central character, the use of the ‘messenger speech’ and tragic mask). Murray’s role is explicitly linked to that of Harrison, in his role as playwright-within-the-play. The scholar makes disparaging comments about the National Theatre using the Oresteia translation of a “grubby northern poet”, rather than his own.

Classical/post-Classical intertexts The play’s main subject is the Norwegian Arctic-explorer and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen, though it is the classical scholar and translator Gilbert Murray who frames his story, rising from his tomb in Poet’s Corner, Westminster, to entreat the aid of Aeschylus in writing a play about Nansen. In his later career Nansen became chairman of the Norwegian delegation to the League of Nations and, in 1921, was appointed the League's High Commissioner for Refugees. Gilbert Murray was a founder and lifelong advocate of The League of Nations Union.

Comment First performed at the National Theatre, London on 22 May 2005.