Britannicus (play)

The tale of moral choice takes as its subject Britannicus, the son of the Roman emperor Claudius, and heir to the imperial throne.

Britannicus' succession to the throne is however usurped by Lucius, later known as Nero, and the son of Claudius' wife Agrippina the Younger.

Racine portrays Nero's true nature as revealed by his sudden desire for Britannicus's fiancée Junia.

Success only came to the play slowly, but of Racine's works, Britannicus is today second only to Andromaque amongst the repertory of the Comédie-Française,[citation needed] and is frequently studied in high school.

The play was performed in 2022 at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London with a translation and adaption by Timberlake Wertenbaker.