NDP Photo Agency/ Thomas Daskalakis
Behind the bars of the Women’s Prison of Eleonas in Thiva, 12 incarcerated women stepped onto a stage and into a public light that many had never known.
Their performance, “GYNAI,” emerged from the National Theater’s personal development workshop, a program running since 2018 that explores art as a means of expression, introspection and self-knowledge.
The production drew journalists, actors and festival guests to the prison. Onstage, the women embodied fear, pain and survival, pleading, “No,” “Why?” and “Help.” For many, the material was deeply personal. Mariana S., a prisoner who wept during the performance, said that she, like many participants, had experienced abuse. “I was lucky to live. Other girls did not make it,” she said.
Director Stathis Grapsas described the ensemble as a contemporary Chorus mourning abused, silenced and murdered women. In the final moments, performers and audience members together called out the names of victims of gender-based violence, filling the room with voices and remembrance. More performances are scheduled for June 27-28.
