“Bajazet” by Jean Racine

“Bajazet”, a tragedy in five acts by Jean Racine with the Comédie-Française company on Tuesday 5 March 2019, at 8.30 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace.

The drama opens with the grand vizier Acomat worried about his position at the court and planning to use Bajazet in a plot to supplant Bajazet’s brother Sultan Amurath (based on Murad IV). The plot also involves Amurath’s favourite mistress, Roxane, and (inadvertently) Bajazet’s love, Atalide. In the end Bajazet and Roxane are killed by order of Amurath. Atalide kills herself when she learns of Bajazet’s death, and Acomat flees.