Phaedra is the Queen of Athens, wife to King Theseus, and the daughter of Minos and Pasiphae. She suffers from a mysterious, debilitating illness that she eventually confesses is an all-consuming, unrequited love for her stepson. Torn between her fierce desires and her need to protect her young son's political future, she struggles to maintain her honor in the face of immense emotional turmoil.

Hippolytus is the proud, morally inflexible son of Theseus and the Amazon Antiope. Long dedicated to strict chastity and outdoor pursuits, he feels inadequate compared to his father's heroic legacy. His carefully ordered life is disrupted when he develops illicit romantic feelings for his father's political prisoner, forcing him to balance his strict sense of duty with his growing desires.

Theseus is the famous King of Athens, renowned both for his youthful heroism in defeating monsters and for his extensive history of romantic infidelities. After a six-month absence that sparks rumors of his death and throws the royal succession into dispute, his sudden reappearance shocks the court. He is a commanding, impulsive ruler who demands absolute loyalty and quick obedience from his family.

Aricia is the last surviving member of a rival royal faction and a political prisoner under Theseus's rule. To prevent her family line from continuing, Theseus has sentenced her to a strict life of celibacy. Despite her captive status and limited freedom, she maintains her dignity and harbors a quiet, reciprocal affection for the king's son.

Oenone is Phaedra's fiercely loyal nurse and lifelong confidante. She is entirely devoted to the queen, often prioritizing her mistress's immediate survival and political advantage over strict moral codes. Pragmatic and deeply protective, she readily concocts schemes to shield Phaedra from the harsh consequences of her hidden passions.

Theramenes is a loyal tutor and trusted advisor to the young prince. He acts as a perceptive sounding board, gently challenging his student's insistence on absolute chastity and correctly recognizing the true romantic reasons behind the prince's desire to flee the city.

Ismene is a trusted servant and confidante to the captive royal cousin Aricia. Highly observant, she is the first to notice the prince's unspoken feelings, offering her mistress hope in an otherwise bleak political situation.

Panope is a domestic worker in the royal household at Troezen. She serves as a critical messenger, delivering sudden political developments that abruptly shift the balance of power among the divided factions of the court.