Afsaneh Mahian’s “The Shadows” brings ancient tragedy into the present at the Athens Epidaurus Festival

Can ancient tragedy still speak to the realities of our time? Iranian director and playwright Afsaneh Mahian believes it can.

Following its international premiere at Germany’s Theater der Welt festival, The Shadows comes to the Athens Epidaurus Festival for performances on 7 and 8 July at Pireos 260 (Space E). The production replaces the previously announced The Child, whose presentation became impossible after members of the Iranian artistic team were unable to obtain visas in time.

Drawing on extensive research and authentic testimonies collected from people across different countries, Mahian and her collaborators developed three true stories whose emotional journeys echo the archetypal figures of Jocasta, Antigone, and Medea. Rather than retelling the ancient myths, The Shadows allows these timeless female voices to resonate through contemporary experiences of loss, resistance, despair, and resilience.

Created in Tehran, the production was profoundly shaped by the realities experienced by Mahian and her team in recent months, amid war, political uncertainty, and emotional upheaval. As rehearsals unfolded, reality gradually entered the heart of the work, transforming the “shadows” of the title from a theatrical metaphor into a tangible presence that permeates both the stage and everyday life.

Combining documentary material with poetic theatrical language, The Shadows places equal importance on text, movement, silence, and the physical presence of its performers. Meaning emerges not only through dialogue but also through rhythm, gesture, vulnerability, and the performers’ embodied experience, creating a theatrical language where myth and reality continually intersect.

Presented through the collaboration between the Athens Epidaurus Festival and Theater der Welt, the production reflects the enduring relevance of Greek tragedy, revealing how ancient stories continue to illuminate contemporary human experience across cultures and generations.