Under that ironclad umbrella of 'poetic licence' a lot of the major characters have been relegated to minor roles and some of the original legend has been left on the cutting room floor as it were. The 'Beauty Contest' has been shortened to only a vague reference and the fact that Paris was killed on the battlefields before the fall of Troy has been ignored in favour of a more continuous interpretation.

In fact, when gathering all bits of information, it becomes clear that each written reference to the Trojan War merely reflects what the authors wanted to make of it rather than a series of 'facts', if the term 'fact' can be applied in any way to a myth. It is clear that over the centuries the Trojan War has developed it's own set of apocrypha to apply at the time that each particular version was being written. Successive ages saw the war as sometimes pagan, sometimes pastoral.

Still the Trojan War survives the centuries as perhaps the most famous war ever. The mythical prototype against which all wars are seen.

'Paris' is simply the story of Paris' involvement in the war, and the struggle to maintain some balance between passion and order, law and chaos, or if you like the head and the heart. Each character is flawed by his or her own imbalance between these two forces, and the resultant struggle is reflected both internally and externally. It is no surprise that a war that started through greed, lust and anger was resolved by cold cunning and logic.

'Paris' also gives an opportunity to explore the darker side of love; it's obsessiveness and all consuming passion regardless of the consequences. In Sir Michael Tippet's "King Priam" he neatly sums up the resolute and tenacious passion that is the catalyst for the war, when, in speaking to Hector's wife and Queen Hecuba on the eve of the fall of Troy, Helen says:

This then, is our own offering to the legend, it's simplicity of theme merely reflects the strength of it's content throughout the ages. A truly classical story, treated with respect and (I suspect) our own version of Helen's 'immortal and incommensurable love'....

Paris the shepherd Prince of Troy, dreams of one day breaking away and seeing the world. One night in his dreams he is visited by the Goddess Aphrodite (the goddess of love and passion) who tells him he will gain the hand of the most beautiful woman in existence if he acknowledges her as the most beautiful of all the gods. Paris agrees.

Laoccen, the high priest of Troy and Cassandra, the princess of Troy, pray for balance between Aphrodite and Athena for they realise that any shift in the balance will result in destruction. Cassandra's curse is that she knows all that will happen and no one will believe her. King Priam of Troy has charged one of his noble subjects, Aeneas with a mission to Greece to establish peaceful trade relations. Aeneas is also told to take custody of Paris, Priam's younger son, in order to show the boy the ways of the world outside Troy. Paris is overjoyed and cannot wait to escape. Cassandra, however, fears the results of this journey.

Paris is still excited and full of confidence as the ship departs the harbour. A storm is brewing but it cannot dampen his spirits. Aeneas and the rest of the crew shout warnings to go below but Paris ignores them. Totally carried away by the moment, Paris is soon washed overboard by a huge wave.

He is drowning. He sees visions of nymphs, satyrs and finally Aphrodite beckoning him towards them. He strikes out with renewed vigour. Just as his strength gives out he discovers he can touch the bottom, and with the aid of Aphrodite, who has miraculously gained human form, drags himself ashore.

He lapses into unconsciousness. We soon realise what appears to be Aphrodite is in fact a real person who is joined by another maiden and an old man. They argue over what to do with Paris and it comes to light that Aphrodite is in fact Helen, wife of Menalaus - The King of Sparta. The other maiden and the old man are her hand maiden and a fisherman. Paris wakes and addresses Helen as Aphrodite, further adding to the confusion, and swears his life-long devotion to her. To the concern of the fisherman Helen seems to respond.

Against their wishes, Helen tells them to care for him. She can't quite decide herself why she should take so much interest in a half-drowned stranger, but her own stars have pointed to changes in her life, to which she looks forward, as she is strangely dissatisfied.

Helen is traveling towards her husband's court where her presence is needed as he is conducting a meeting involving nearly all of the Greek Heads of State.

Menelaus's brother, Agamemnon has been trying to convince him that a war against Troy would be both profitable and easy. Menelaus is still unsure of his feelings towards this action but agrees to put it to a vote. All the warlords are gathered and there is a feeling of unease, particularly voiced by Ulysses who doubts the wisdom of war and mistrusts Agamemnon. Patroclus stands and addresses the council telling them that any thought of war is fruitless without his best friend Achilles being present. He believes that Achilles is the foremost warrior on Earth and the only person qualified to lead the Greek Armies. Agamemnon is unmoved and Menelaus calls for a roll of the dice to decide the leader. Agamemnon's dice are apparently blessed by the Gods and he manages to gain the leadership for himself.

The remaining Greek chieftains are still dubious of Agamemnon's motives for war, particularly when Achilles bursts in and accuses them of being cowards or worse. He feels he has been robbed of the leadership by Agamemnon's careful planning of his absence. But he will follow the vote under sufferance as most present realise who is the true leader anyway.

The moment is broken by a guard announcing that they have captured a stranger skulking around the Palace gates who claims he is a Trojan Prince. Paris is brought forward dressed in the fisherman's clothes much to the amusement of the assembled Greeks. Helen, who has just arrived, is horrified. Ulysses, however, recognizes his claim immediately by the ring on Paris's finger.

Agamemnon leaps at his chance by welcoming Paris with open arms much to everyone's confusion. When Agamemnon starts prying Paris for details of Trojan defences however, most people understand his motives.

Paris has not uttered a word so far, he is just standing dumbstruck staring at Helen. When he finally voices the opinion that the Greeks must surely be the chosen race in order to have Aphrodite in their court, Agamemnon offers a private audience for him.

Paris is led away amid Helen's fury. She turns on Agamemnon and accuses him of toying with the balance and inviting ruin upon everyone. She says she will go and visit Paris but warns her husband that no good will come of playing Agamemnon's games.

After she leaves, Ulysses agrees with her argument, and urges the remaining Greeks to find a better reason to leave their homeland than to embark on a war merely for personal gain. Agamemnon is infuriated and tells them of voices in the night urging him on. He stalks out leaving the others with their doubts.

Helen is still angry and tells him who she really is and how any fool guard could see that she is mortal and an enemy. Paris is unabashed and asks her if she is in fact an enemy, and has no feelings for his devotions. Why is she angry?

Helen has no answer and confides that she doesn't understand either but she will help him to escape. Helen formulates a plan. With the aid of her handmaiden she can get him past the guards to the cliffs where they can send word to Æneas' galley that he is waiting.

Paris tentatively moves toward her and takes her hand, meaning to thank her. This somehow develops into a kiss, which Helen at first resists, but finally returns, with as much passion as Paris. They finally break apart. The handmaiden is smiling and blushing furiously while Helen is uncharacteristically flustered.

Unfortunately for them, Agamemnon has been hiding in the shadows, and listening to most of the conversation. He stands for a moment smiling to himself before summoning the guards to fetch his brother Menelaus and the rest of the Greeks. When they arrive he tells them that Paris has abducted Helen, and therefore has proved himself and all of Troy an enemy to be reckoned with.

It is nighttime on the cliffs. Helen, the handmaiden and Paris are waiting for a sign from Æneas' boat. Paris is despondent, he believes he is about to be betrayed by fate. He is trying to convince Helen that the feelings they might share are a gift from the Gods and they are destined to be together. Helen, ever the realist admits finally that she is very attracted to him but reality dictates that they must never see each other again..
Suddenly they are discovered by two Greek guards. They are immediately called on to surrender.

Helen tries to dismiss them but they take no notice and seize the handmaiden by the hair preparing to cut off her head. With a cry of, No.. She is innocent!! Paris hurls himself at the Greeks and is busy grappling with one of them as the other continues with the attempted execution of the maid.

Helen grabs a rock and crashes it down on the executioner's head and turns just in time to see Paris about to receive a fatal sword thrust from the other guard. She picks up the fallen Greek's sword and at the last minute reverses the blade and knocks out Paris's assailant. The handmaiden has recovered and has spotted Æneas' galley and is frantically waving. Helen looks across the cliffs and sees many more Greeks hurrying towards them, but too far off to see precisely what is going on. She grabs Paris by the arm and hurls him off the cliff towards the galley, she then turns and tells the handmaiden to run, as she is now free.

He looks down at the fallen Greeks, then to the sword still in her hands. She takes one last look at the advancing Greek guards and dives into the sea after Paris..
The Greeks arrive to find the two prone soldiers and no sign of the handmaiden. Then they spot the lights of Æneas' galley just as a breathless Menelaus and Agamemnon arrive with the rest of the Greek captains. Menelaus takes one look at the scene an swears an impassioned oath to the Gods that he will not rest until his poor wife is back by his side and the trojan nation is punished for it's perfidity. The other Greeks echo his oath except for Agamemnon who stays in the shadows offering his own silent prayer of thanks.

On the galley we find Helen, wrapped in a blanket and staring silently out to sea as the ship makes its way to Troy. Paris approaches and tries to cheer her up by once more declaring his love for her.

As the ship docks in Troy a huge crowd has gathered to see what news Æneas brings. It is Æneas's duty to tell King Priam that the mission has failed. Paris steps forward to explain but falters under his father's angry gaze.

There is silence until Helen announces that she doubts any attempt at making peace would have worked, as there was a war council in progress even as Paris arrived. Hector asks who she is that she knows so intimately the workings of King Menelaus's Court? Before she can answer, Cassandra steps up and says her name is Death and she will bring about the downfall of Troy. The crowd is shocked, none more so than Priam when Paris introduces her as Helen, the wife of Menelaus, reigning King of Sparta, and that he loves her.. Hector tries to lighten the moment but Priam dismisses him and orders Æneas to set sail immediately and return Helen to Greece.

It is morning on the ramparts of Troy. The watch gazes anxiously out to sea. Suddenly one spots a sail, almost at the same time a warning horn blasts out at the sighting of another sail. Soon the entire battlements echo with the sound of Sail Ho! Hector joins in the throng telling them not to be afraid and to remember that only the strong will survive the oncoming battle. Stirred by his speech the Trojans rally behind their war chief and man the walls.

Such is the passion that Hector has inspired, the Trojans repulse the first wave of assault. A lull in the battle brings a captain to Hector's side with the news that the Greeks have broken through the east wall. They are led by Achilles who is cutting a swathe through the Trojan ranks and much stronger resistance is necessary. Hector is worried by this turn of events as he should lead the counter-charge himself, but he is needed on the battlements. Paris arrives dressed in armour and announces he is ready to take Hector's place. Hector is unconvinced and explains to Paris that he is hated by both sides. Paris counters by telling him that he is quite prepared to die for Troy as a Trojan and nothing else. Hector is moved by this speech and leaves Paris to take his place on the wall.

Hector leaps to the courtyard and almost immediately encounters Achilles. A short, but fierce battle ensues where neither man gains the upper hand. Achilles' momentum has been halted forever, and his men are quickly being routed leaving him alone to face the Trojans. Hector congratulates Achilles on his fighting but reminds him that he is outnumbered. Achilles leaves with the ominous warning that he will be back.

The first battle ends with the Greeks driven back to the coast. Troy is left with the wounded and the dead. Amidst this scene, Paris and Helen meet on the battlements and contemplate their fate.

The Greek camp some years later. Nothing has changed. The Greeks have succeeded in conquering the surrounding areas but still Troy remains defiant - worse, they are starting to make forays outside the Greek walls into the Greek camp.

Achilles is outraged that Agamemnon has stolen a slave girl who he considers to be his property. Agamemnon dismisses him saying that she is spoils of war.

Achilles is even more enraged and accuses Agamemnon, shouting that he is responsible for the mess they are in now. He then announces to the gathered Greek chieftains that he is no longer a part of this war. He takes off his armour and leaves.

Ulysses is disturbed by this and reminds everyone that without Achilles, the Greek army has no starch. It would be folly to contemplate leaving however, as the Trojans would more than likely follow them and invade in return.

As if on cue, a Greek soldier enters and breathlessly announces that the Trojans have broken through their blockade and are marching on the Greek fleet. The Greek captains grab their arms and leap to battle. Before they leave, Menelaus turns to Patroclus and warns him to find Achilles and make him change his mind or else it will be the end of them.

Patroclus is left alone. He offers a prayer for help. He knows full well that Achilles will not go back on his word and he is lost for what to do.

His prayers are answered when he spies Achilles armour. He tries it on and finds it a near perfect fit. He makes a passable imitation. With no further thought he leaps into battle.

The ploy is successful to a point, as his appearance rallies the Greeks and they slowly force the Trojans back. When he runs in Hector however, he is immediately engaged in a battle where he is outclassed.
The Conclusion is inevitable and Patroclus soon falls, mortally wounded. The Trojans are jubilant and forget the battle to chair the dubious Hector from the field.

The Greeks are stunned and demoralized. They slowly gather around their fallen hero. Ulysses unmasks Patroclus and word is sent immediately for Achilles.
While the Greeks are somewhat relieved to find that it was not in fact who they thought, Achilles is beside himself with grief, and swears to the Gods he will fight one last battle to avenge his fallen friend. He walks to the gates of Troy wearing his blood-stained armour and calls to Hector to meet him man to man.
Up in his apartments, Hector hears the call and prepares to do battle. Helen tries to stop him by offering to give herself up to the Greeks, but is rejected. Paris enters and also tries to stop Hector, but to no avail.
Before he leaves, Hector wishes them both well, telling them that their love is not in vain.

Outside the gates, Achilles confronts Hector. They launch into each other. A short but furious confrontation follows, where Hector appears to be gaining the upper hand. But every time he lands a telling blow, Achilles just shrugs it off.

Finally Achilles stumbles and falls after Hector has managed to connect a hard kick to his heel. Hector charges in for the kill and is impaled on Achilles' outstretched sword.

A great groan of horror issues from the Trojan audience, and Paris rushes onto the field just in time to catch Achilles, who has only just recovered and is preparing to lash the body of Hector to his chariot.

With a cry of NO! Paris rushes to Hector's side ignoring the still limping Achilles. Hector is not quite dead and manages to tell Paris of Achilles weakness before he dies. Paris is beside himself with grief and hurls himself at Achilles who nonchalantly brushes him aside, to continue lashing Hector's corpse to his chariot. He turns and glares at Paris saying that he will be his next victim.

Paris finally calls out to Aphrodite to save him and the very next arrow flies true, straight into Achilles exposed heel.

With a cry of Yes....... Yes........ Achilles dies, collapsing in the dust, an almost happy expression on his face.
Both warring parties stare at each other across the plain. After a while stunned onlookers move slowly forward, collecting their dead champions.

Ulysses, disguised as a beggar, confronts Helen to see if she might have some insight into resolving the war. At first she dismisses him, then becomes suspicious. When Aeneas threatens him however, she saves Ulysses by pleading for his life as he is just a beggar. She allows Aeneas to lead her back into Troy, leaving a pensive Ulysses alone and staring at the heavens.

The Greeks slowly gather round. Awe-struck, they look to Ulysses. He tells them he has a plan involving several volunteers who should hide inside the horse. The remaining Greeks should then pretend to retreat and leave the horse as spoils of war for the Trojans.

When the Trojans are asleep the Greeks should exit the horse and open the gates of Troy to let in their fellow warriors. Troy would then be at the mercy of the Greeks and the war would be over.

The Greeks are overwhelmed by this plan, and Agamemnon calls for volunteers (who he nominates) and they quickly enter the horse as the remaining Greeks prepare to leave.

Before they do so, one of the Greek guards (Sinon) is told to get drunk and pretend that he has been left behind by accident. His mission is to convince the Trojans to move the horse inside the walls, by telling them not to, the logic being that Trojans will do the opposite of what their enemies tell them.

Sinon reluctantly agrees and the Greeks exit, leaving Sinon and two other confused volunteers to try and sort out what it is they are supposed to be doing.

After the three soldiers have entered the horse and Sinon has collapsed into a drunken stupor, the horse stands alone, huge and menacing.

Cassandra and LaocŒn move slowly forward. She is very frightened by the manifestation of her nightmares. She tells LaocŒn that it is within their power to save Troy by destroying the horse where it stands.

Just as LaocŒn is about to set fire to the thing they are interrupted by an excited Æneas who breathlessly tells them that the Greeks have been sighted off shore, apparently leaving, and it appears by the state of their camp they will not be coming back.

The assembled multitudes of Troy then arrive, led by Priam and Hecuba, who have ventured outside the gates for the first time in years. There is much celebration, which gradually dies down as each one discovers the huge figure of the horse. Priam suggests that perhaps the Greeks left it as a monument to their dead. Just then the sleeping form of Sinon is discovered, and Æneas bullies him awake.

Sinon gathers his wits about him long enough to tell his story, that the horse is a monument to the Goddess Athena to appease her anger at the Greeks' retreat, and that evil will befall the leaders of the Greek armies if the Trojans accept it as their own. This idea seems to delight most of the Trojans, who have nearly all lost family members during the war. Priam however, remains unconvinced and asks LaocŒn for his opinion. As usual no-one takes any notice of Cassandra.

LaocŒn gathers himself and announces that the Gods are not to be trusted, and never should be. The sky darkens and distant thunder roars. He is not to be stopped however, and continues by stating that all the troubles that have fallen on both Greece and Troy are the direct result of interference by the Gods in the role of mankind. He prays for the day when humanity grows up and realizes that they don't need Gods at all.

The thunder is getting louder and the sky darker. The crowd is hushed and nervous as LaocŒn grabs a spear and says that since the horse belongs to the Gods it is a thing of evil and should be destroyed. With that he hurls the spear at the effigy. It clatters against the side and a low, muffled moan escapes from inside the horse.
The crowd are terrified, but before anyone can investigate the sound a fearsome clap of thunder rolls above their heads, and a bolt of lightning strikes LaocŒn down. Serpents slither from the bushes and drag the smoldering corpse away.

Before the stunned eyes of the onlookers, the figure of Athena slowly materializes and solemnly points at the horse and then to Troy. The Trojans drag the horse into Troy and not to court any further disaster by ignoring the will of the Gods. The masses exit dragging the horse with them, leaving the still distraught figure of Cassandra alone on the plain.

Night-time in Troy. The horse stands, dominating the courtyard, where a few stragglers from the last of the parties are winding their way to bed. Paris is in his chambers with Helen. They are both asleep.
As soon as the courtyard is empty, the Greeks slowly exit the horse, and begin silently dispatching the few sleeping guards and signaling from the battlements to their waiting comrades. Far above the scene Cassandra is pleading with Paris to wake up and save Troy, but of course he cannot hear her.

With a mighty roar the Greek army rushes through the now opened gates and the slaughter begins.
Paris frantically wakes the half-naked Helen and the two rush onto the balcony, where they meet Æneas who is packing his wife and his sons off to the harbour, where his ship is waiting. He concedes that Troy is lost, but there is still a chance for them all to escape. Paris agrees and hands Helen over to Æneas's keeping, saying that he will find his father and mother and meet them at the docks.

The streets are crowded with panicking Trojans and berserk Greek warriors. Paris manages to fight his way to the courtyard of Priam's Palace, where he finds he is too late. The weeping figure of Hecuba is kneeling over the corpse of Priam, who has just been slain by a drunken Greek soldier.

Hecuba is crying and pleading to be left with her dead husband, saying that his last words were of forgiveness to Paris, that he always loved him, and that he should go and start a new Trojan dynasty with Helen, so that the war they had fought so hard and long would not be in vain.

Hecuba continues, that with the death of her husband and homeland, her life is now effectively over and he should grant his mother's last wish — to be at her husband's side when the end comes.

Before he can argue further, a crowd of panicking Trojans sweep him away from his mother. Paris finally breaks free and fights his way towards the docks where he sees Æneas, Helen, et al, waiting on the ship, ready to cast off. A large force of Greeks is descending on them and they are shouting for Paris to run, RUN!!

Just as Paris is within leaping distance of Helen's arms and safety, Menelaus steps from behind a pillar and fires an arrow straight into his back. His legs give way and he crashes to a skidding halt on the docks. Helen is shouting, NO!! NO!! and attempting to wrestle her way free and leap to shore. She finally pushes him away and jumps to the docks where she grabs a sword and hacks away at the moorings. Æneas's ship drifts away into the darkness.

Helen runs to Paris and drags him bodily by the tunic, almost angry at him, shouting that he cannot die now, not after all they had been through. Paris smiles and says that he will never leave her, as he will always be alive in her heart. His legs give way again as the life slowly runs out of him.

Menelaus arrives. His mood changes from one of worried concern, to confusion, through to despair as he notices the way his wife is caressing the head of his sworn enemy. whispering words of endearment, and crying as though her heart will burst. The moment is broken by a swaggering Agamemnon who arrives and announces that he will be the toast of Greece for this stunning victory. He then prepares to cut off Paris's head as a war trophy. Menelaus whirls on him angrily, drawing his own sword and saying that he would prefer not to have to kill his own brother, but will certainly do so if he touches a hair on Paris's head.

He denounces himself as a proud and foolish old man, who has caused the death of many innocents in his belief that one such as Helen could ever be attracted to anyone but himself. He goes on to say that he would have let her go with Paris if he had known how she felt, as her happiness was always the most important thing to him.
Menelaus moves to comfort her. She turns to him and says; Menelaus I loved him so! Menelaus replies I know, now I know. Agamemnon leaves with a captive Cassandra in tow who is almost laughing at him.

Menelaus wraps Helen in his cloak, the guards carefully remove Paris's corpse. He then swears to Helen that although it is small consolation, he has always loved her and will continue to do so, and if she will consent to stay with him he will try to ease her pain. He leaves Helen alone with her sorrow.

She softly starts to sing the chorus as she wipes Paris's blood on her face and in her hair. Her voice falters and is taken over by the Chorus.

British recording legend John Parr is most famous for the lead vocal on the hit single "St Elmo's Fire".

A relative newcomer at the time of this recording, Shiela's Welsh passion shows through time and again.