POLIS AND PANATHENAIA

Presented by Flaming Carnations and Anywhere Festival.  

In classical Athens, it was a rarity for women to attend activities outside of oikos—the opposite of polis, meaning home and family. The Panatheneaia, an annual festival in honour of the goddess Athena, was one of the rare public festivals in which women had an active role, providing a bridging ground to the public, or masculine, sphere for women. Thousands of years later, all over the world, many spaces remain tainted by gender politics. In Australia, allegations of gender-based violence regularly emerge from places deemed ‘safe’, such as universities, schools, and even Parliament House. The outside world remains masculine. Ancient spatial politics continue to ooze into our spaces.

Polis and Panathenaia questions the spatial politics and performance implications of gendered space in classical Greek myth-lead plays. This site-specific promenade performance will centre five contrasting women of Greek tragedy, giving each character a distinct space and moving the audience to reflect on power, erasure, and tragedy.

Written and Directed by Georgia McKenzie

*A Relaxed Performance experience will be provided on Sunday, May 14th at 6:00pm
**Please be aware that this production features verbal depictions of suicide, infanticide and homicide, as well as some coarse language.

This performance is at VENTspace in South Brisbane.