helen.

by emma joy hill

Rooted in the Helen of Troy myth, this theatrical installation explores the exploitative roles women are coerced into playing. Helen is the “everywoman”. Trapped in echoes of our own double binds, she’s faulted for the world’s catastrophes whether she’s painted as an object of weakness or one of sexual deviance. She exists in four roles: whore, wife, lover, and child, with any number of performers dividing up...

Rooted in the Helen of Troy myth, this theatrical installation explores the exploitative roles women are coerced into playing. Helen is the “everywoman”. Trapped in echoes of our own double binds, she’s faulted for the world’s catastrophes whether she’s painted as an object of weakness or one of sexual deviance. She exists in four roles: whore, wife, lover, and child, with any number of performers dividing up the text. The performance itself is immersive and in a promenade-style
allows interaction with the Helen(s) in delegated space(s) where audiences can choose which versions of Helen to watch and/or turn away from. Focusing on feminist concerns such as believability, assault, objectification, sexuality, and consumption, the performance invites engagement with multiple artistic mediums and ultimately seeks to empower and transcend gender dynamics.

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helen.

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: helen.

    “It’s not about the face that launched a thousand ships. It’s about the tits that started a thousand wars.” An installation piece inspired by the Helen of Troy myth that looks at the roles that women are expected to fill. This piece is filled with visceral poetry and stage directions that will force an audience to confront their complicity in the harm done to women. This is a piece that doesn’t have to be performed in a theatre but I think it should be performed there and any venue where women have limiting expectations forced upon them.

    “It’s not about the face that launched a thousand ships. It’s about the tits that started a thousand wars.” An installation piece inspired by the Helen of Troy myth that looks at the roles that women are expected to fill. This piece is filled with visceral poetry and stage directions that will force an audience to confront their complicity in the harm done to women. This is a piece that doesn’t have to be performed in a theatre but I think it should be performed there and any venue where women have limiting expectations forced upon them.

Character Information

any number of women can participate in helen. but it must be women and they must all be helen.
  • helen
    Character Age
    Any
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization University of Connecticut , Year 2019

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Studio 570, Year 2021
  • Type Fringe, Organization The Brick, Year 2020