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Two paths to the heart of Medea
🇬🇷 Greece /Culture & Society

Two paths to the heart of Medea

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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- Two Greek theater productions,

Two distinct theatrical interpretations of the Medea myth are set to premiere at the Athens Festival, exploring the tragic figure's motivations through contrasting lenses.

If I had to describe the work on an ideological level, I would say it's a crazy mix between the American TV series 'Desperate Housewives' and Euripides' 'Medea.'

— Galin StoevDescribing his production 'I-ONE'.

Director Galin Stoev's "I-ONE" reimagines Medea through a science fiction narrative. The play, co-written with Ivan Viripaev, centers on a woman who commits a double homicide and is offered a choice between prison or an AI brain implant. She chooses the implant, which malfunctions. Stoev describes the work as a "crazy mix between the American TV series 'Desperate Housewives' and Euripides' 'Medea.'" The play features three actresses of different nationalities, with Stoev treating the narrative like a musical composition. It is performed in English, Greek, and Polish, weaving together the myth of Medea.

In contrast, German director Milo Rau's "Medea's Children" confronts the myth with the reality of a real-life child murder. Rau states, "When you see how long it takes to strangle or stab a child, to kill a person, then you understand the reality of extreme violence." His production brings Medea face-to-face with the brutality of actual infanticide.

When you see how long it takes to strangle or stab a child, to kill a person, then you understand the reality of extreme violence.

— Milo RauExplaining his approach to the Medea myth in his production 'Medea's Children.'

Both Stoev and Rau grapple with the question of who this woman is in the 21st century who kills her children. Stoev is particularly drawn to the ambiguity of Medea's state, questioning whether she is driven to madness or has achieved ultimate freedom. He sees Medea as a character who speaks to the contemporary demand to deconstruct patriarchal social structures. "I-ONE" premieres at the Ancient Epidaurus Small Theatre on August 7th.

You never know if Medea has been driven completely mad or if she has achieved absolute freedom. This ambiguity is extremely interesting, especially today.

— Galin StoevReflecting on the character of Medea.
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Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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