“Mother Tongue” by Georgia Tsagkaraki – a powerful female monologue about language, memory, and redemption

“Mother Tongue” by Georgia Tsagkaraki is a gripping female monologue that explores the power of language, the layers of memory, and the path toward redemption

Theatre of the NO, Athens’ first English-language theatre, presents Mother Tongue by Georgia Tsagkaraki, a fast-paced female monologue shifting between the present and past of a middle-aged Greek stand-up comedian who lives and works in London. After many years abroad, she returns to Greece and relives the traumatic experiences that shaped her.

Blending stand-up comedy, spoken word, storytelling and animation, the performance moves fluidly between English and Greek, aiming to create a third performative language understood by all. Mother Tongue premieres on Friday, 5 December, and will run every Friday and Saturday at 20:30.

The protagonist, Skyler Doukas, armed with humour and honesty, is thrust into an intense process of self-redefinition and reconciliation with her past. Through this journey, she brings to light the difficult relationship with her mother, the tender memory of her late father, and the traumatic experience involving her mother’s new husband.

The performance examines the heroine’s memories and wounds, while the tension between the native and acquired language becomes a catalyst for forgiveness and redefinition. Her personal journey transforms into an explosive emotional experience shared with the audience.

Director’s Note

Mother Tongue explores the power of one’s native language and its connection to the memories formed while growing up. It speaks of the motherland and the desires we expect—perhaps in vain—to be fulfilled. Of the grief of loss. Of the violence of abuse and the trauma that forever haunts the victim.

The directorial challenge lies in balancing the comedic dimension of the work with the tragic one, as well as navigating the fine line created by the coexistence of two languages. The aim is to create a shared space between performer and audience, where the sometimes painful and sometimes humorous events of the heroine’s life are lived and exposed in an explosive present.

Production Credits

Text, Direction, Performance: Georgia Tsagkaraki
Assistant Director: Viktoria Kokiza
Music Composition & Soundscape: Stefanos Giakoumakis
Lighting Design: Maria Athanasopoulou
Design & Animation: Zina Papadopoulou
Set Design & Construction: Haris Germanidis
Costume Supervision: Viktoria Kokiza

Featuring the voices of: Themis Panou, Isabella Louiza Kyriazi, and Eva Germanidi

Note: The performance alternates between English and Greek, creating a unique bilingual experience.

Creative Team

Photography & Performance Video: Haris Germanidis
Social Media: Haris Germanidis, Eleftheria Loupasaki
Poster Design: Sotiria Bramou
Press & Communications: Eleftheria Sakareli