As world rediscovers 'The Odyssey,' disabled actors in Greece explore pain of war

Epidaurus, Greece — As the global audience revisits the epic tale of The Odyssey, a theater troupe in Greece is presenting an alternative narrative rooted in the aftermath of war. The production, titled "The Trojan Women," features a diverse cast of 22 performers, both with and without disabilities. This performance was groundbreaking as it marked the first fully accessible production in the ancient theater's 2,300-year history.

The ancient stone arena in southern Greece now offers a full suite of accessibility services, catering to visually impaired audience members through Braille programs, tactile models, and live audio description. Deaf spectators were provided with overhead titles to ensure they did not miss any part of the performance. In addition to these auditory and visual adaptations, the theater site itself was modified to ensure physical accessibility.

This performance of "The Trojan Women," derived from the works of Euripides, who wrote about three centuries after Homer, delves into the stories of the city's women who were forced into exile and servitude following the Trojan War.