Margaret Atwood's The Penelopiad presented by QSE

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Fri 25 Aug 2023 - Sun 10 Sep 2023

Odysseus' (also known as Ulysses ) story has been told in the most famous works of western literature, Iliad and The Odyssey, and so everyone has heard of him. But what about his wife Penelope who was back in Ithaca running things under difficult circumstances while Odysseus was off destroying Troy (which took 10 years) and sailing lost around the Mediterranean (which took another 10 years). What Penelope was doing for those 20 years is what Margaret Atwood explores in her story.



About Margaret Atwood

Having published 18 novels, 18 collections of poetry, 11 non-fiction books, 8 children's books, 2 graphic novels, and written a the libretto for an opera, as well as adapted some of her works for screen and theatre, Margaret Atwood is not only prolific and versatile, she is international recognised and awarded. The Handmaid's Tale is one of the most iconic science fiction television series. Her award list includes 2Booker Prizes, an Arthur C. Clarke Award, a Governor General's Award, a Franz Kafka Prize, Princess of Asturias Awards, and a National Book Critics and PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Awards.



It is easy to try and describe her works with simple labels, such as political and feminist, but not only does Atwood reject these terms, but it belies what she is doing. Yes, she strongly represents female struggles, the feminine identity and the woman's perspective in her works, but there is not a lot of political ideology or agenda. Often well-researched, she avoids the trap of many authors to treat that as an end in itself and instead uses this for an exploration of both the characters and personal philosophical questions. Her works can be funny, inspiring, bleak or horrifying, because, in the end, she is a storyteller, with a gift of giving a voice to people and issues that too often have been voiceless.

About Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble and why they are doing non-Shakespearean works?

The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble has had a mission to bring Shakespeare to the people of Queensland through both its education programs and its popular productions of Shakespeare. They have numerous outreach programs to work with community groups to encourage people to get up and perform as well as productions designed for events, such as Shakespeare's Shorts. Because of their ability to work with students as well as core members of the ensemble, they are able to put on productions with large numbers of performers for much less, often making them the best value for money Shakespeare you will find.



In recent years they have branched out from Shakespeare for reasons they they themselves are not really able to pin down. Maybe it is because they did a table read of a script of a play from centuries past and found it very interesting, or maybe it is simply a play few others would put on because of the requirements for so many performers. One key thing in choosing The Penelopiad would have been that it requires a lot of female performers, and The Ensemble has more female than male actors, which means that this production is perfect for the classical elements of The Penelopiad is also something that is interesting to them as well.

About The Penelopiad

The Penelopiad started with the Canongate Myth Series, where prominent authors rewrote myths to uncover new perspectives. In the novella written by Margaret Atwood, the focus is on looking at a key character, Penelope, whose role is not expanded on much in two of the most famous historical and mythical works of western literature, The Iliad and The Odyssey. She not only expands Penelope's story with more details but asks questions about whether the male-dominated version of the story was telling the truth or was just their version.

The novella was translated into 28 different languages and published simultaneously around the world by 33 different publishers. In the same year as the story was published, Atwood was developing a theatrical version, and this has been performed by the Canadian National Arts Centre in Canada and the British Royal Shakespeare Company in the UK.

About the production

Led by the talented Rebecca Murphy, the production put on by the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble makes creative use of the limited space and simple elements to create a rich visual experience. But also, it is a story that is fast-paced, incorporates the many storytelling styles from the novel but is ultimately centred on the people and the narrative.



Lead by the experienced members of The Ensemble, with Liliana Macarone as Penelope, Frances Marrington as Eurycleia and Rob Pensalfini as Odysseus, they are backed up by strong performances by the apprentices of The Ensemble, who bring a range of powerful performances as well. With many of the cast playing different roles, they are able to demonstrate their strong performance range.



One of the key elements of productions by the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble is the music. While some of the songs and rhymes come from Margaret Atwood herself, Rob Pensalfini backs this up with additional music as the Composer and Musical director of the production.

Getting there

The Pip Theatre in Milton is an easy enough location to drive to. There is free parking underneath the theatre, and there should be enough street parking if you prefer. There are also some secure paid parking places around Milton if you need it.



Public transportation is pretty easy too, with the theatre being near the Milton Train Station and there are plenty of buses as well. You can even jump on the ferry and get off at the Milton Ferry Terminal. For those who like to cycle, the Bicentennial Bikeway passes through Milton along the Brisbane Riverfront.

Before and after the show

When going to see a play with a Greek setting you should probably get into the mood with some Greek Food. Unfortunately, the nearest one is in West End, though that isn't that far away if you think about it. Otherwise, you have a wide selection of bars, breweries, restaurants and cafes to choose from in Park Road and surrounds in Milton. There are even more restaurants further up on the other side of Milton Road.



One of the nicest things about the PIP Theatre is its bar out the back, which also includes a 2nd level with some cosy tables and benches. The bar serves drinks and snacks, and there are great views out over Milton. Because it is outside, remember to bring a jacket before the show and intermission on cooler nights.



Verdict

The Penelopiad is a great example of what theatre can be. It is witty and insightful, but also confronts the audience at times, but also mixes bleakness and hope together into a story that is both fantastical and grounded in reality. It is not just a woman's perspective on a famous tale or even the tale of a woman at the margins of a story but looks genuinely at the other side of the story and the details or versions that might be missed when we only hear one side.

In addition, the wonderful and dynamic production by the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble in the fairly intimate space of the PIP Theatre does an incredible amount with little. While not always perfect, the performances range from good to great. Overall a play worth seeing.

Tickets

Show times

The author attended a performance of The Penelopiad as a guest of The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble

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!date 25/08/2023 -- 10/09/2023