What Draupadi Said to Penelope

Dance, Physical Theatre and Circus (spoken word, artist(s) of colour)

  • Accessibility:
    Wheelchair Accessible Toilets
    May not apply to all performances. You'll find more information about accessibile performances and how to book tickets in the accessibility tab below.
  • Babes in arms policy: Babies do not require a ticket
  • Policy applies to: Children under 1 year

Description

In the dead of night, as Penelope unravels the shroud she is weaving, a nocturnal wind blows through her chambers, bringing her the stories of women from the Mahabharata – tales of choice, gender, oppression and violence. At times Penelope hears of them, at others she becomes one with them, in a retelling that disrupts the traditional narrative of men. This is a transnational feminist creative project, embedded in literature, feminist scholarship and poetry. The pieces are accompanied by musicians combining classical and contemporary styles, and embedded in Indian classical contemporary dance and movement.

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General venue access

  • Wheelchair Accessible Toilets
  • Accessible entry: The space is situated on the ground floor off the main reception area beside toilets.
  • Wheelchair access type: Level Access

  • Stairs: Information not supplied

Each venue can contain several space with different accessibly information. Visit the venue page for full venue accessibility info


How and when to make an access booking

Our access tickets service is available to anyone who:

  • Would like to book specific accessibility services, e.g. a hearing loop, audio description headsets, captioning units, seating in relation to the location of the BSL interpreter
  • Requires extra assistance when at a venue
  • Has specific seating requirements
  • Is a wheelchair user
  • Requires a complimentary personal assistant ticket to attend a performance

Jennifer McLeish 12 days ago

I was deeply moved by the beautiful and passionate performances by both the actors and musicians in this show. The composition of the stories intertwined with music and dance led to an even more resonant experience of the stories told by Penelope. I was moved to tears as we heard the experiences of the woman in the stories, but was left with a resounding feeling of hope at the end, proud of the message that woman have carried so much but have been part of powerful change in society. That we can influence the future. I cannot rate this show any higher. It was a privilege to see and I was delighted by the high standard of all involved. I loved the music and the singing so much that I wish I could hear it again! A truly wonderful experience.

Destiny Noble 23 days ago

Powerful feminist storytelling through dance, music, and narration. Great show! Definitely check it out.

claire yerramasu 27 days ago

Great show, stunning music and dancing, drama, highly recommend. Enjoyed the narration.

Saoni Bir 33 days ago

However dramatic it may sound but i felt lucky living in Edinburgh and experience this performance as a part of Fringe. It talks about the social issues women have been facing for centuries now but still have things changed?? The entirety of the performance transports you to a different world - the passionate dancers , skilled musicians and the hero of the show - an exteremely well written script and needless to say the magician who narrated the whole story. An absolute must watch if you appreciate good content/perfomances. Highly recommended!!

Coree Brown Swan 33 days ago

This was a fantastic event, which exposed me to a whole new (to me) body of mythology through a feminist lense. The choreography and dancing was fantastic, the narration was really elegant and beautiful, and I loved the music. The lighting and sound was really professional, just a fantastic, beautifully done show that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Patrick Smith 35 days ago

Despite the venue being somewhat off the beaten track for the fringe, this was a deservedly well-attended show. Shining a light on various feminist issues via stories of women from the epic Mahabharata, the frame of the show has these stories being told to and by Penelope (and, in a reflection of a point made in the show, here I wonder if I should add "wife of Odysseus").
Even a slight knowledge of the Mahabharata and its stories and characters is certainly helpful in understanding aspects of the show. No knowledge is required, however, to be pulled in by the spell-binding narration, and rewarded by the visually beautiful and emotionally powerful performance of the four dancers, each portraying a woman from the epic, accompanied by a diverse mix of music from their accompanists.
Very highly recommended!


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