Pacts with the gods rarely end well in drama-land, and Idomeneus, a new play inspired by Homer's The Iliad, is no different.
Set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, the eponymous hero, a Cretan general, is caught in a storm on his way home, and vows to the almighty to sacrifice the first living thing he sees.
Just what that first living thing is would be telling, but rest assured as with any drama of, or in this case inspired by, the Greek variety, copious bloodletting ensues.
While he's not quite reached the level of human sacrifices, Mark Monero, who plays Idomeneus, among other roles, admits he's growing more superstitious the older he gets.
"My mum would say things like 'don't cross knives' and 'don't put a hat on the table' and I'd be like 'yeah, whatever'," says the ex-Eastender.
"But as I've got older when I put a hat on the table I'll quickly move it. I don't believe in those sayings but the idea's been instilled in me and I don't want to tempt fate."
Idomeneus was written by German Roland Schimmelpfennig, one of Europe's most popular playwrights, and has been translated by David Tushingham. It is making its UK premiere at Notting Hill's Gate Theatre in a new production by director Ellen McDougall.
Monero describes the story itself as sticking quite true to the tone of Homer's masterpiece, one he says continues to reverberate through the ages thanks to its strong moral centre and cautionary tales.
But it's told in a more modern, yet timeless way, he explains, adding when I ask him to elaborate 'I wanted to wear sandals but I wasn't allowed'.
It might not fulfil his footwear requirements but Idomeneus does appeal to his love of the dark and sometimes gory, it would appear.
The keen musician, who has appeared in videos for electro maestros The Chemical Brothers, recently completed an Alfred Hitchcock-inspired score for a 60s horror film called Blood and Carpet and says he loves horror or comedy with a bitter twist.
So what would the soundtrack be for Idomeneus if he had to compose one?
"I think it would be a bit like the music in Cape Fear, maybe with a few tracks by a band I like called the Dead Can Dance. It's a very uncompromising play," he says.
Monero made his name playing Michelle Gayle's love interest Steve Elliot in Eastenders during the early to mid 90s and looks back on his time in the soap with mixed feelings.
"In a way it made me the person I am today. I was a bit of a rebel back than but this taught me the self-discipline of doing something day in, day out," he says.
"But at the same time you do get typecast and it was quite hard to find work after I'd finished."
So would he ever return to Walford, given the chance? 'Never say never', he replies. After all, for a fan of horror, outside ancient Greece there aren't many more blood-soaked arenas than the streets of E20.
* Idomeneus is at the Gate Theatre , in Pembridge Road, Notting Hill, from June 19 to July 19. For tickets, visit www.gatetheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 020 7229 0706.
