The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney put on a spectacular production entitled “Women of Byzantium” on Sunday, November 24 at the Hermes Lounge in Kogarah, Sydney.
The production combined elements of theatre, audio-visual material, music and dancing. It centred on a time travelling journalist (Theodora Zourkas) who interviewed nine historical women from the Byzantine era.
The nine women were:
- Hypatia (Nia Gitsas), which highlights the clash of two worlds and the transition from Greco- Roman civilisation to Christianity;
- Evdokia (Antonia Nikolopoulou), who founded the first university in Europe;
- Pulcheria (Anna Micos), who guided ecumenical councils;
- Theodora (Sophie Brunetta), who saved Justinian’s throne and thereby went on to re-build Ayia Sophia and make Byzantium the largest state of the time;
- Kassiani (Stephanie Giannas), saint and hymnographer;
- Irene (Vivian Spanos) and Theophano (Maritsa Micos), ambitious women who resorted to brutal means to hold on to power;
- Zoi (Linda Legas), an empress who married three times after turning 50 and who turned the palace into a chemical laboratory;
- Anna Commena (Hellen Demas), world’s first woman historian whose work, the Alexiad, is indispensable to knowledge of the first Crusade.
The script was written by Costa Vertzayias and the play was directed by Liana Vertzayias. The costumes and jewellery were made by Angela Kiki Konstantinopoulou, Linda Legas, and Christine Tsakonas.
The theatrical section was then complemented by a dance segment also unique – dances from Asia Minor which are rarely performed and in costumes rarely seen. The dancing was choreographed by Irene Tsenkas and Vassilios Aligiannis.
This was followed by a discussion on controversial issues arising during the Byzantine era such as iconoclasm and the murder of Hypatia. This was moderated by Dr Vasilis Adrahtas, Convenor of Greek Studies at UNSW, and he was assisted by John Theodore.
Speeches by Lyceum President, Ms Vertzayias, His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, and Anastasia Christofilopoulou, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy at the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, rounded off the afternoon. Canapes inspired by Constantinople were also offered after the performance.
The event was held in collaboration with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia in celebrating its 100 years in Australia and the University of NSW, and under the auspices of the General Secretariat for Greeks Living Abroad of the Hellenic Republic.
It was a production that entertained, educated and made those in attendance, think. Words do not do it justice for those who missed it and the consensus is that it should be repeated.
*All photos copyright Effy Alexakis.
