Phaedra I—

About the Production

Phaedra I—, written and directed by Avra Sidiropoulou and produced by Persona Theatre Company, is a solo multimedia portrayal of a modern-day Phaedra, the legendary wife of King Theseus. This contemporary interpretation explores Phaedra as a restless woman oscillating between desire and existential fatigue, suffocated by socially imposed roles within a decaying metropolis. The production employs 3-D mapping, video projections, and minimalist aesthetics to create a poetic visual journey through Phaedra’s personal and public history.

The performer embodies all characters from the ancient myth—including Aphrodite, Theseus, Hippolytus, the Chorus, and the crisis-ridden City—while engaging in dialogue with her digital selves. Struggling against existential fatigue, Phaedra emerges as a palimpsest of voices, images, and memories.

Cast

• Phaedra: Elena Pellone

Creative Team

• Playwright & Director: Avra Sidiropoulou
• Set/Costume/Video Designer: Mikaela Liakata
• Concept Dramaturg: Miranda Manasiadis
• Dramaturg: Eleni Gkini
• Composer: Vanias Apergis
• Lighting Designer: Anna Sbokou
• Assistant Directors: Julia Kogkou, Maria Hadjistylli
• Director of Photography: Michael Demetrius

With the kind support of The J. F. Costopoulos Foundation.

Reviews & Feedback

Era Journal: UCL Arts and Culture

“This innovative staging was subtly reminiscent of the static nature of Greek tragedy—where action is never depicted onstage but merely reported. Phaedra I— mirrored this convention through Elena Pellone’s direct narration to the audience, evoking the tradition of Greek narrative performances. This short, punchy drama left a lasting impact, with Pellone masterfully shifting between voices to recreate the magic of Greek tragedy in a modern context.”

Emine Fişek, Assistant Professor of English Literature, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey

“Avra Sidiropoulou’s Phaedra I— revisits the enduring question of Phaedra’s relentless passion for her stepson, Hippolytus: Is her desire an act of agency, or is it dictated by prophecy? The production pulsates with these urgent inquiries, exploring the interplay between agency, desire, and consent. Elena Pellone’s body becomes the surface onto which these themes are projected, with imagery of a suffocating metropolis and uncollected rubbish evoking a sense of collective ruin. Ultimately, Phaedra I— asks: Where do we stand in relation to this story of unfettered hunger?”

Audience Feedback

• “Smashing performance by Elena Pellone in Avra Sidiropoulou’s contemporary feminist rendition of Euripides’s Phaedra; a re-imagining like no other.”
• “Don’t miss the amazing Phaedra.”
• “A great opportunity to revisit ancient Greek tragedies with a modern twist. Elena Pellone masterfully plays all characters, making for an excellent experience.”
• “A bravura solo performance—stylized, intense, and visually striking as Pellone’s robe transforms into a screen for Phaedra’s guilty longings.”