May 2026

How is one of the most controversial female figures of Byzantine history embodied on stage today? In what ways do contemporary theatrical representations attempt to “redeem” Theodora from the legends and writings that have long stigmatized her, and to what extent do they ultimately reproduce enduring gender stereotypes? The workshop “Dangerous Women of Byzantium on Stage: Embodying Theodora” invites actors, theatre students, and all those interested to explore, through practical performance exercises, the construction of Theodora as a theatrical figure and the gendered narrative conventions that continue to shape her representation.