Reviews Review | Persephone (Where the Light Forgets Me) — an echoing exploration of girlhood by Mariam Shonia • 3 min read Share ▲ Official photo via social media. 3.5/5★ This debut work, Persephone (Where the Light Forgets Me), delves into the experience of girlhood, presenting an internal, almost private narrative reflecting a collective female experience. Georgian actress Anastasia Chanturaia, who conceived and directed the play at the Haraki Theatre, crafts a piece that feels more like a personal search than a broad observation of the contemporary world.
The narrative’s intimacy suggests a limited audience, as such introspective stories rarely aim for widespread appeal. The play finds resonance within specific relationships and experiences common to women, largely due to Chanturaia’s exploration of whether the mythological Persephone herself might have shared similar experiences of girlhood. The performance begins with Chanturaia in an embryo position, awakening and literally tasting herself as she starts her life.
Within the intimate space of Haraki, this feels like a private encounter. The narrative isn’t linear, and the character isn’t presented as a child; instead, it’s an awakening into a fragmented story of girlhood. Soon joined by Gviko Baratashvili and Nika Japaridze, the three actors move together rhythmically, creating a synchronized effect reminiscent of a video game or digital loop.
This movement transitions into an adult woman’s life, introducing the words and experiences she encounters. The “hell” of her mind and society emerges through interactions with the two men, who act as archetypes – sometimes toxic partners, sometimes critics, and sometimes echoes of childhood traumas, constantly seeking a father who never arrives. The repeated phrase “მა, მამიკო, მამიკო, სად ხარ?” (‘Dad, daddy, where are you?’) anchors this “hell.”
The soundscape, created by GABISKIRIAMALIA, Liza Dzagania, and Saba Padiurashvili, shifts between aggressive noise and quiet calmness, reflecting the protagonist’s shame and eroticism.
Tamar Nadiradze’s scenography, draped in red velvet, evokes an underworld – luxurious yet suffocating. The play utilizes stark contrasts of darkness and brightness, with the well-lit moments feeling particularly awkward and shameful. While some critics found the text cliché, the idea suggests that trauma operates as a repeating, painful loop.
The myth of Persephone surfaces toward the end, as the character reflects on the goddess’s experiences. A towering, monstrous figure appears, representing the collective weight of womanhood. The play concludes with Chanturaia returning to her embryo position, suggesting that the wounds shaping a woman’s life often trace back to the beginning.
Ultimately, the play suggests that recognizing oneself is key, even if finding what is lost remains elusive. Persephone (Where the Light Forgets Me) was staged at Haraki Theatre in Tbilisi, presented with English subtitles, and will be performed on 31 March and 1 April 2026.
Topics: #persephone #where #light
