proposals

PW is accepting proposals to direct in the Downspace in September, October, and December of 2018! See our proposals page for guidelines for the proposal, and see the Facebook event for information on this round of proposals.

the penelopiad

by margaret atwood
dir. mary martha wiggers '18
may 23-26

This retelling of The Odyssey through the characters of Penelope and her maids reveals the dark underbelly of our conceptions of duty, honor, and chastity. Penelope's maids often bear the full brunt of systemic classed and gendered violence which Penelope, in her financial and social privilege, is often in a position to escape. The Penelopiad challenges the misogynistic themes presented in The Odyssey, while also offering a model by which the maids can rebel against the narrative of Penelope's complete oppression, and examines how oppressed bodies, too, can effect violence on others.

Mary Martha's vision for the production centers a cast made up of womxn, gender non-conforming, and trans male and female actors--in other words, those who have been oppressed by the cis-patriarchy. The cast will use song, movement, and verse as methods of unveiling the silenced narratives of oppressed and marginalized bodies. We as a board are so thrilled to present a production that engages in decentering privileged, cisgendered narratives of womxnhood in order to represent a model for resistance that values the nuanced reality of sexism and oppression. Keep an eye out for information on auditions, to be held the week of April 5th! Those who are interested in stage managing, or with any production team-related questions should email mary_martha_wiggers@brown.edu for more information.

Auditions will be held starting April 5th. For information on auditions, see the Facebook event.