The 1997 season saw one of the most successful productions the Minerva had so far produced.

Electra, starring Zoë Wanamaker and directed by David Leveaux, was a co-production with Donmar Warehouse. By this time, the Minerva had a reputation for attracting star performers who liked the challenge of the intimate thrust stage, an interest which needed to be balanced with the potential loss of ticket sales in the smaller venue. Luckily, for Electra, this wasn't an issue for Artistic Director Duncan Weldon, who stated: 'Electra at Chichester? We'd empty the bloody theatre. They're not going to come and see Greek tragedy in the Main House. Keith Michell did Oedipus Tyrannus back in 1974 and it was empty, even with Keith in it [...] If we do Electra, it has to be in the Minerva'.

The production received outstanding reviews and ultimately transferred to London, where Wanamaker won an Olivier Award, and then to Broadway, where she was nominated for a Tony Award. Listen to our interview with Wanamaker from 2014 below.