The Greek tale of Medea is a powerful piece that showcases the extremes of human capability—not only through the play’s protagonist, Medea, but also through her husband, Jason, and the King. It leaves us, the spectators, with a jaw-dropping exploration of the human condition. Themes of love (or the absence of it), exile, womanhood, and revenge resonated deeply with me as I read the script. The story of love lost and vengeance found culminates in Medea’s harrowing decision to kill her own children to spite her husband. I created the opening theme using GarageBand to represent the production concept below. Press play and give it a read.
I believe that a show masterfully written with epic events lends itself beautifully to a minimalistic production. My vision is to use the chorus to create much of the scenery and to embody the overarching theme of womanhood and the transformation Medea is forced to undergo. Through the use of lighting, fabric, and projections, I aim to craft a timeless, location-less world that allows the focus to remain on the movement, body work, and the epic Greek tale itself.
The Chorus will serve as physical representations of Medea’s body, spirit, and mind, undergoing major transformations throughout the show. They will embody her wounds, tears, and the “noise” within her mind, amplifying the emotional and psychological depth of her journey. At pivotal moments, the Chorus may underscore scenes with crying or moans, intensifying the atmosphere during climactic moments.
While watching this music video alone, I couldn’t help but connect it to the semi-formed concept I had for this show. After seeing it, I felt inspired! Closely observing how the chorus emphasized and motivated the words, I began to vividly picture Medea and her chorus in these roles. The repetition in movements creates a sense of routine, which becomes understood and accepted by the audience as a theatrical convention.
Just as the main character shifts throughout the video, each chorus member will have a moment where they are so overcome with the story they are telling that they step into the role of Medea. While the pop hit itself will not be part of the production, it serves as inspiration for the movement, plot, and transitions between scenes.
I envision my chorus wearing evolving masks that reflect Medea’s current emotional state. One striking image I have is of the chorus members emerging one by one at the end of the play, each revealing their mask in sync with a heartbeat sound. The masks evolve throughout this sequence, culminating in Medea herself stepping forward without a mask, fully embodying her final emotional state.
Another powerful image I call “The Crowd of a Thousand Women.” In this vision, the Greek chorus holds masks behind their backs, slowly revealing each one in a deliberate and awakening motion. This act brings life to an overwhelming group of women who either support Medea or intensify the stakes of the scene. A group of ten chorus members transforms into an imposing assembly of thirty through precise choreography, moving and tilting in unison. This dynamic crowd vanishes just as suddenly, leaving a haunting, resonant impression.
Overall, I believe this concept offers a perspective that speaks to the heart of the script while exploring the human condition. It allows the cast to connect deeply with the text and emotions, using their entire bodies and the strength of their ensemble to bring Medea’s world to life.