Disabled Actors in Greece Stage 'The Trojan Women' at Epidaurus

EPIDAURUS, Greece – A cast of disabled and non-disabled performers staged Euripides' "The Trojan Women" at the ancient theater of Epidaurus, in what organizers called the first fully accessible performance in the 2,300-year-old venue's history.

The Aug. 2 production, produced by the National Theater of Greece, shifted the focus away from the homecoming heroes of Homer's "The Odyssey" – recently thrust back into the global spotlight by Christopher Nolan's film – and onto the women left behind in Troy's ruins. Forced into exile and enslavement, they embody the suffering that war leaves in its wake.

Accessibility services covered the full range of disabilities. Blind audience members received Braille programs and tactile models, plus live audio description. Deaf spectators followed overhead titles. The site itself underwent physical adaptations to improve access.

Greg Polychronidis, a Paralympic gold medalist who attended the performance, called it a milestone. "It's the first time a performance at Ancient Epidaurus has been made accessible to everyone," he said. "Today was a celebration of equality and it should serve as an example for everyone, forever."