Priestess of disgrace, you bring joy into my life (2020 - ongoing) is a loose script in development between Athens and Amsterdam. It is based on what Adriana Cavarero calls “the truth of the vocal”. In the piece, informal conversations marked by the dramaturgy of everyday life in a rich and complex urban textile, as the one of Athens, are turned into composition material for a chant that resonates the city’s secrets and rumours.
The script is performed by Mercedes Azpilicueta, together with Angeliki Tzortzakaki and Maria Sideri with an intermingling of Greek and English voices that enact the city’s most well-hidden knowledge: the one of elderly women. The overheard and informal speech of these women is enriched with creative writing related to feminist theories on reproductive labour, (domestic) resistance and womens friendship and solidarity.
In October 2, 2020 a performative reading took place, accompanied by a live sound mix by Maria Sideri, coming from street recordings in Athens, available here.
In November 25, 2020 coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women, Theatrum Mundi hosted the talk “Lend me your words: scripting and processes of voice”, available here.
In June 27 2021, the City Talks Back assembled for the second time, on movement.radio
“Priestesses of Disgrace Act II” is a live radio show composed of a conversation between the three artists with pre-recorded soundscapes from the artists’ residencies in Athens, and excerpts from the updated script; as well as music by women singers that have shaped a feminist voice identity in the cities of Athens and οther Mediterranean cities such as Cairo and Izmir.
available to listen here.