Historic Epidaurus theater hosts first fully accessible production of The Trojan Women
A mixed cast of disabled and able-bodied actors performed Euripides’ The Trojan Women at Epidaurus, marking the ancient venue’s inaugural fully accessible show.
Amid renewed global interest in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the National Theater of Greece staged Euripides’ The Trojan Women with a 22-member cast that blended disabled and non-disabled actors at the historic Epidaurus arena. The production became the first in the venue’s 2,300-year history to offer comprehensive accessibility, including Braille playbills, tactile models, live audio description for blind audience members and overhead subtitles for deaf patrons, alongside physical modifications throughout the site.
Paralympic gold medalist Greg Polychronidis praised the event as a celebration of equality. Cast members such as wheelchair-using Eirini Kourouvani and blind psychologist Ioanna-Maria Gertsou, accompanied by her guide dog, expressed personal empowerment. The accessibility plan was crafted by the nonprofit Liminal with financial support from Alpha Bank. Artistic director Argyro Chioti noted the complexity and cost, urging that inclusive productions become the norm for major stages.
Why it matters
It demonstrates how historic cultural sites can be made inclusive, setting a precedent for accessibility in the arts.
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