HELEN

HELEN The Trial of a Prostitute by Miguel del Arco

In the role of Helen: Lydia Koniordou Directed by: Christos Sougaris

Inspired by Encomium of Helen by the sophist Gorgias, Euripides' Helen, and Homer's Iliad, this monologue brings forth a bold and redemptive voice for the mythical figure of Helen of Troy. The story seeks to correct the injustices cast upon her through myth and the "official" version of history — the woman said to have sparked the Trojan War and the decade of suffering it brought to both Greeks and Trojans.

Helen launches a fierce indictment against everyone — from her alleged father Tyndareus to her actual father Zeus (who thunders back at her accusations from the heavens). She deconstructs the heroes of the Trojan War, defends herself with strength and conviction, and asks, “Who really writes history?”

Miguel del Arco, one of the most important figures of contemporary Spanish theatre, delivers with humor, sensitivity, and empathy a deeply human and unapologetic portrayal of the “most hated” woman in Western cultural history.

His Helen claims the right to tell her story from the perspective of the defeated, offering an alternative version of the events that led both her and thousands of others to ruin — condemning patriarchy and the so-called justice of the powerful.

Lydia Koniordou, Greece’s leading tragedian, brings to life the most fascinating and misunderstood heroine of myth.

Joining her on stage is legendary guitarist Babis Papadopoulos of the iconic Greek rock band Trypes, performing his original music live throughout the performance.

The direction is signed by Christos Sougaris, returning once again to dramaturgy drawn from mythological and historical sources — following his celebrated production of The Trojan Women by Euripides at the Epidaurus Festival for the National Theatre of Northern Greece (NTNG) in 2022.