By Dimitris Kametopoulos
A marvellous and remarkable event was enjoyed by those lucky enough to attend the theatrical performance Women of Byzantium last weekend, on March 1 – 2, at the Hellenic Art Theatre in Marrickville, Sydney.
The event was uniquely organised and presented by the esteemed organisation, the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney.
As the title of the event suggested, the main theme was the presentation of the lives of nine prominent and powerful women who lived during the era of the great Greek-speaking Byzantine Empire – presented by the women themselves.
As stated in the event programme, “The Hellenic Lyceum, as a guardian of Greek tradition, education, and culture, presents a performance about women who stood out for their dynamic personalities and achievements, who remain an inspiration and role model for young women today!”
The present moment travelled back 1,000–1,500 years, with a “modern journalist” journeying through time to ask intriguing questions to each of these women. The aim was for them to recount their position and role in Byzantium, share personal aspects of their lives, discuss the challenges they faced, their relationship with Christianity and Orthodoxy, their intrigues, their influence, their achievements, and how they perceived themselves as well as their historical or religious role in the course of history.
Hypatia, the Empresses Eudokia, Pulcheria, Theodora, Irene, Theophano, Zoe, Anna Komnene, and the holy Kassiani took to the stage in full costume. Each of them was interviewed in Greek or English for approximately 10–15 minutes by the “modern journalist” Theodora Zourka.
Before each on-stage interview, the dynamic President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney and host, Liana Vertzayias, read a brief biography of each powerful Byzantine woman. Meanwhile, Dimitris Koumbaroulis and Harry Mavrolefteros chanted short ecclesiastical hymns, further enhancing the necessary Byzantine atmosphere of the event.
Presenters were Amanda Tziallas in Greek, Christina Mitsopoulos and Tina Contos.
The program was complemented by the Lyceum’s dancers performing rarely seen Asia Minor dances led by Irene Tsenkas.
In a short address, Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis stressed the importance of the production as Byzantium is the link between Ancient Greece and Modern Greece.
Countless congratulations are due to the following Greek women from our community and members of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, each of whom admirably and enviably portrayed these prominent women of Byzantium: Nia Gitsa, Antonia Nikolopoulos, Anna Micos, Sophia Brunetta-Kongos, Stavroula Gianna, Paraskevi (Vivian) Spanos, Maritsa Micos, Styliani (Stella) Sorotou, and Eleni Dima.
Congratulations are also owed to the other contributors to this production for their work on the characteristic Byzantine costumes, direction, subtitles in English and Greek, and the presentation of traditional Greek dances—especially Linda Legas, Christina Tsakonas, Angeliki Konstantopoulos, Adamantia Tzialla, Irene Tsenkas, Thanasis and Maria Fotiadis, and others.
It is worth noting that the concept of presenting the women of Byzantium in this unique way – through a “live interview” – belongs to the prominent expatriate figure Costas Vertzayias.
What can be stated with absolute certainty is that the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney offered the Greek community of Sydney an opportunity to learn more about Byzantium, particularly a lesser-known aspect of it – the strong female presence.
*The production was under the auspices of the Secretariat of Greeks Living Abroad.
