DAUGHTERS OF TROY Completes First Phase of Development

Daughters of Troy spent the week before Labor Day completing a residency on Governors Island in New York through Barton Booth's MAKE ROOM initiative. The residency concluded with free presentations of the theatrical work-in-progress along with an exhibition of artwork inspired by the women of the Trojan War.

Daughters of Troy uses classical text, visual art, music, dance and current events to deconstruct female archetypes through the lens of the Trojan War. ??The project is a collaboration between theatre and visual artists led by Aubrey Saverino in partnership with international art organization, RE:ARTISTE.

This past weekend's presentations included theatre pieces, visual art, dance and soundscapes that illuminated the stories of Clytemnestra, Electra, Melantho, Oenone, Penelope, Iphigenia and Helen of Troy.

Throughout the week the visual artists created installations while the theatre makers, many of whom attended The Old Globe MFAProgram, spent the week devising together. "We felt inspired by the island, the visual art and each other," said Saverino. "One writer would share her idea, it would resonate with another writer and deepen the work all around. I was excited to see each individual find her own unique voice while reflecting and building on the pieces by other artists".

The pieces are extremely varied, and the group was thrilled to have the opportunity to work on them throughout the week. Six presentations of works-in-progress were presented Labor Day weekend over two days. "I've worked a lot in new play development, and this was unique to anything I've experienced," said Brooke M. Haney, Artistic Producer and writer of the piece on Oenone. "For me, out of six presentations, no two were alike. Not only did I have two different concepts I was playing with, I also got to rewrite the script overnight, and I gave Bryan Cortes, playing Corythus, the freedom to change the ending through scripted ad-lib. It was thrilling."

"This collaboration wouldn't have been possible without the support of Barton Booth and the generosity of Governors Island's artist residencies," concluded Saverino. "We were so grateful to for the space to explore and create together. I can't wait to see how the project develops from here."

Daughters of Troy will continue to develop this theatrical event, and hopes to remount it in the near future.

l. to r. Actress Courtney Silber poses as the statue of Oenone while being painted by artist Kate Goltseva in Brooke M. Haney's theatre piece on Oenone which included live art.

Photo Credit: Katya Nicholas