Μήδεια | Mēdeia

Medea is living in Corinth after helping her lover, Jason, escape with the Golden Fleece. She betrayed her father and did unspeakable acts to her brother to escape, so she is in exile. Jason plans to marry the princess of Corinth, Glauce, daughter of king Creon. She does not like this because he promised to marry her. King Creon exiles her from Corinth but she pleads for one more day, which he gives. Over the course of the day, she meets the King of Athens, who in exchange for her using magic to cure his infertility, gives her sanctuary in Athens. Medea enacts revenge, killing her and Jason's two sons, poisoning and killing King Creon and Glauce, before flying off to Athens on a golden chariot.

γένεσις | Génesis

One of Euripides’s surviving plays, and part of a trilogy (Medea is the only surviving play of the trilogy.) Medea was originally produced in 431 BC for a festival in the City of Dionysia. We have an amount of artwork inspired by the play surviving, such as the picture below. Greek plays have a feature our modern plays usually do not, called the Chorus. Many masks worn in greek theatre were stiffened and painted linen, so none have survived.

For those of you in the chorus, please read this research document, its short and light, please check out This Link

A Greek Krater depicting Medea:

Director Whats-His-Name wants to produce Medea as closely to ancient greece as possible. With that in mind a thing to note about the structure of a Greek Theatre is that the very center of the circular stage had perfect accoustiks, sound reverberated perfectly around the area. Keep this in mind when putting on the play, the center of attention and the center of the stage should be linked together.

θέατρον ἱστορία | théatron historíā

• Pre-1600| Produced literally to many times to count or know
• 1898 | Alpons Mucha created a poster for the play
• 1983 | Medea was adapted from kabuki by Shozo Sata
• Modern Times | There has been ballroom camp drag shows of Medea, there have been adaptations from the childrens point of view, ect...

θέμα | théma

• Proto-Feminism: Hugely debated, I am not trying to engage with the text in criticism, I am dramaturgy and attempting to explain the different social bonds in Greece at the time.
• Vengence
• Civilization and Barbarism
• Guest and Host Relationships
• Marriage
• Child and Parent Relations

Ελλάς | Hellas

Corinth - Location of the play

Iolkou - Home of Jason

Colchis - Home of Medea

For further reading, please check out these resources!

Xenia

- The concept of Xenia and Philia/Storga

• Philia is one of the 4 types of love
• Greek Tragedies are often tragic because they violate philia or storga (Oephidius, Orestes, etc.)
• For information on how to follow the rules of xenia, see the program note below
• Xenia is the notion of hospitality. It was so strict that breaking it was blasphemy to the gods, an affront to your country, and a betrayal of your guest.
• Xenia is why Odysseus slaughtered Penelope’s suitors in the Odyssey, they had broken xenia by taking advantage of his wife’s hospitality and courting her in his house.
• Within the play, Medea is a guest in Corinth, she also begs for refuge from Aegeus, seeking Xenia.
• The host should accept any traveler who comes by and offer him a bath and a meal without asking for the person’s name. After the guest has eaten, the host may ask the traveler’s name and place of origin. The guest has a responsibility to treat his host’s house and possessions with respect as well as to provide his name and background when asked. When the guest is taking his leave of his host, the two will exchange gifts as tokens of their newfound friendship. Once a xenia relationship has been established between two families, it can last for generations, providing both families with a place to sleep on future journeys.” – Mythology Unbound
• edea has xenia broken for her by Creon when he exiles her to protect his interests. She follows but also breaks it by sending a poisoned crown and robe.

Program Note

How to follow Xenia

• First, welcome a stranger into your home. Remember, theres no hotels, so somebody's got to take them in.
• Second, offer them a bath! Some good food and drink! Give them the nice wine, like that 1924 Chardonnay you've been saving.
• Thirdly, make them comfortable. Offer your best chair in the house.
• Fourth, once you have satisfied your guest, you may ask questions. "Where are you from?" "Hows it going?" "Why are you traveling?"
• Fith, when they leave, give them a gift, or food for their journey. If you are the guest, give your host a gift.
• As a guest, remember to be curtious, dont take advantage of your host's generosity. Last time that happened it started the Trojan War!
• Remember, breaking Xenia is an affront to the Gods, to your Household, and to your Nation.