In Greece, a cast of disabled and non-disabled performers stages Euripides’ “Trojan Women” at the ancient Epidaurus theatre, focusing on the suffering left behind after the Trojan War rather than the triumph of returning heroes. The performances run as global interest in Homer’s “The Odyssey” is renewed by recent public attention to the epic.
Organizers say the Aug. 2 staging is the first fully accessible performance in Epidaurus’ roughly 2,300-year history. The production takes place in the open-air stone arena and features a large ensemble of 22 performers. Audience access services include Braille programs for blind spectators, tactile models, live audio description, and overhead titles for deaf attendees, along with physical adaptations across the venue to improve movement and viewing.
While outlets agree on the broad theme and accessibility claims, the emphasis varies: one report foregrounds the connection to renewed “Odyssey” attention and the play’s shift to the perspective of women from a ruined city; another highlights the accessibility measures as a historic first at the site.
